Hall of Fame
BIOGRAPHY
ROBERT GALVIN '49
The 1940 's was a time when professional and amateur boxing were big, a time when Detroiter Joe Louis reigned as the World Heavyweight Champion. With that as the backdrop, Mr. Robert Galvin '49, began his rise to amateur boxing prominence in Golden Gloves and CYO competition and earned his place as the first pure boxer to be inducted into the Catholic Central Athletic Hall of Fame.
While recovering from a football injury, freshman Bob Galvin came to know Fr. French C.S.B. who introduced Bob to the sweet science" of boxing at the Belmont AC In 1947, after a five-year absence, CYO amateur boxing returned to the Detroit area. Sophomore Bob Galvin claimed the 1351b class novice crown and became CC and Belmont's stellar performer. The next year as a junior, Bob (undefeated) won a $1, 000 boxing scholarship, the first ever awarded, as the best all-around boxer in the CYO tournament. Bob's crowning achievement came as a senior when he brought the school its first individual CYO Class A Boxing Championship. He was the first individual to receive a CC letter at a school assembly.
His ring style was described by a classmate as : "...crouching ominously, pressing forward in relentless hiry, seriously intent on making short work of his opponent... Bob had adroit skills, a fiercely competitive spirit, and took great pride in his school."
Mr. Galvin, while in a pre-med course of study at the University of Detroit, was appointed to the United States Naval Academy. Bob continued his boxing career as a member of Navy's Varsity Team. He, again, distinguished himself as two (2) time Fleet Champion (1953 & 1954). Bob gave his country twenty (20) years of active duty service, including time as the Naval Academy's Boxing coach with organizational oversight of the boxing programs.
Mr. Galvin retired from the Navy as a lieutenant commander. Bob taught university level courses in Norfolk, VA where he and his wife Ester lived and raised their family.
Bob Galvin's life was the embodiment of the school's teaching credo, "Teach me Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge," serving well his God, his family and his country.
ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME
