Bob Mathias | ||||||||||||||||||
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 Congressional portrait circa 1967–1974 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 18th district | ||||||||||||||||||
| In office January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1975 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Harlan Hagen | |||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | William M. Ketchum | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | ||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Robert Bruce Mathias November 17, 1930 Tulare, California, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||
| Died | September 2, 2006 (aged 75) Fresno, California, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Republican | |||||||||||||||||
| Spouse(s) | Melba Mathias (1954–1976) Gwen Haven Alexander (1977–2006) | |||||||||||||||||
| Education | Stanford University (BA) | |||||||||||||||||
| Sports career | ||||||||||||||||||
 Mathias at the 1952 Summer Olympics | ||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (190 cm) | |||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 203 lb (92 kg) | |||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | |||||||||||||||||
| Event | Decathlon | |||||||||||||||||
| Club | Olympic Club, San Francisco; Stanford Cardinal | |||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Robert Bruce Mathias (November 17, 1930 – September 2, 2006) was an American decathlete, politician, and actor. Representing the United States, he won two Olympic gold medals in the Decathlon, at the 1948 and the 1952 Summer Games. As a Republican, he served in the US House of Representatives for California's 18th congressional district, for four terms from 1967 to 1975.