Robert Knodle started competitive weightlifting in 1927, when he won the 112-pound title at the championships conducted at the Sesqui-Centennial in Philadelphia by a margin of 10 pounds on the total of five lifts. Later that year, Bob won first place in the bantamweight division in the National Championships, conducted by the Milo Bar Bell Company under the sponsorship of the American Continental Weight Lifting Association. He retained this title in the same championship conducted by the organization the following year, and was granted the the Charles Lee Award for the outstanding lift of 1928.

From 1929 on, the official championships were governed by the AAU. This change was inconsequential to Knodle as far as winning championships were concerned. Year after year, it was the same story: Bob Knodle continued to preserve his unparalleled record by remaining undefeated and untied in any of the many contests he participated in.

Bob was a Senior National AAU champion each year from 1929 to 1932, and a fifth time in 1934. Including the two national championships conducted by the Milo Bar Bell Company in 1927-28, which were genuine championships, Knodle won seven national championships. He won the South Atlantic Championship in 1931, where he established his highest total for five lifts with a total of 742½ pounds. (Now the orthodox policy is only three lifts.)

Knodle’s 5-foot-4 frame was the recipient of a special award for his outstanding accomplishments in the ‘iron game’ — the American Continental Weight Lifting Association conferred upon him the Gold Award for his highest total. Bob’s weight never exceeded 112 pounds in competition.

His unwavering interest in weightlifting through the years made him one of the community’s biggest boosters of the sport he helped promote at the YMCA since he first joined in 1921.

Bob was still active at the time of his induction, at age 82. He helped sponsor weightlifting in public schools. In 1984, he was awarded an appreciation plaque from North Hagerstown High. Each practice, Bob still did many chin-ups.

Robert Knodle is truly the “Mighty Mite of Brawn and Muscle”.