Aaron Vehling

There’s an old phrase that goes, “Like father, like son.” However, in the King family that phrase would need to be changed to, “Like grandfather, like father, like son.” Sophomore Bob King is the third generation in his family to attend UW-Eau Claire and play on the Blugold football team. Bob is a biology major with a pre-med emphasis.

His grandfather, the late Robert H. King, graduated from the university in 1949 and his father, Robert A. King, graduated from Eau Claire in 1974. Both were Blugold football stars.

The choice for Bob King to join the university, however, wasn’t dependent upon his grandfather’s and father’s attendance at Eau Claire.

“A lot of people ask me about that, but it really wasn’t a factor in my decision to come,” he said. “I applied to nine schools and I really liked this school.”

Another deciding factor for Bob’s choice, he said, was Eau Claire’s interest in him as a Blugold football player.

“There were only two or three (colleges) that showed some interest in me to play football and (Eau Claire) gave me a great opportunity here,” Bob said.

Ever since Bob can remember, football has been a part of his life – and football seems to be a running theme in the King family. Not only did the three Robert King’s play at Eau Claire, but Bob’s uncles, Craig and David, (Robert A.’s brothers) also attended Eau Claire and shined on the football team.

“Every once and a while we’d have games as a family, just get together and play around,” Bob said.

Craig was a four-year letterman, a first team All-Conference for two years and an All-American honorable mention in 1982.

His brother David, Bob’s other uncle, was a three-year letterman, a defensive captain in 1978 and an All-Conference defense honorable mention.

Both, however, were following the path their father had started. It was Robert H. King who created the family football tradition.

Robert H. was a four-year letterman, a member of the 1947 Championship Team and captain of the 1948 Blugold team.

Bob said he learned a lot of lessons in football and life from his grandfather, who passed away this January.

“He’s taught me so many things not only about football and life but also the kind of person to be,” King said. “That is the stuff that has carried on throughout my life.”

Robert H. was able to see his grandson accepted to the university as well as earn a spot on the football team as a freshman. Bob said his grandpa was pleased to see him follow in his footsteps.

“My grandpa always commented about how happy and excited he was for me,” Bob said.

Robert A. also was excited.

“I was extremely proud that he chose Eau Claire,” he said. “My father and I had talked about it and I know he’s heard so many stories about what it means to be a college athlete from me, my father and my brothers and I knew this was something he really wanted to do.”

Robert A., like his father, was a four year letterman. He was chosen as captain in 1972 and that same year set the still-unbroken record for most fumble recoveries in a season. In 1973, he led the team in scoring and was second in rushing.

Bob said everything he knows about football can be attributed to his father.

“My dad has coached me all my life for football,” Bob said. “He comes to all my games and coaches me from the sidelines even.”

Robert A. said when he and Bob were talking about football last weekend, Bob told him that many of his teammates wish they had a dad who was so enthusiastic on the sidelines.

“I’ve played on the same field for four years, and I know what’s going on in his head,” Robert A. said. “Even 30 years later, my heart is still there and I would put the helmet back on in a minute, but the body’s just not there.”

Bob feels very honored to be in a long line of Blugold student athletes.

“It’s really nice, it’s really exciting (being the third generation here),” Bob said. “My dad and my uncles were pretty good players, at times it seems like it might be a lot to live up to, but it’s not too much. I’m mostly just out there doing what I love to do – play football.”

Susan Forcier, Bob’s great aunt, summed up the family, saying it’s an exceptionally talented family to be a part of.

“We’re all so proud of everyone,” she said. “It’s great that the boys have followed in each other’s footsteps.”

Bob said he has learned much from his father and grandfather in life as well as on the field.

“My dad always told me, ‘If you miss a tackle, miss it going full speed,’ ” Bob said. “I take that on the field and always go 110 percent all the time. In life you can use it as well. You just got to keep going doing your best.”

Robert A. said he had been told that phrase by his father ever since he was a child.

“He would always say that to my brothers and sister and I,” he said. “I have believed that my whole life, I try to emphasize if you believe in something, you gotta go after it 100 percent.”

Robert A. said he can see a lot of similarities in Bob, himself and his father, Robert H.

“We share our love for the game as well as our extreme competitiveness,” he said. “We are all our worst critics and emphasize not accepting anything less than our best.”

Bob isn’t sure if he will continue on with the Robert King Eau Claire student and football player tradition on his children.

“If I do, I wouldn’t pressure him or anything. If he did end up going here, that would be great,” Bob said. “I don’t know if I would keep the ‘Robert’ name alive, I guess I’d have to cover that with the wife at the time. I suppose it would be pretty cool though.”

Robert A. said he and his siblings had been told that phrase by his father ever since they were young.

“I have believed that my whole life. I try to emphasize if you believe in something, you gotta go after it 100 percent,” he said.

Robert A. said he sees a lot of similarities in the three of them.

“We share our love for the game as well as our extreme competitiveness,” he said. “We are all our worst critics and emphasize not accepting anything less than our best.”

Bob said he isn’t sure if he will continue on with the Robert King Eau Claire football player tradition.

“If I do, I wouldn’t pressure (my kid) or anything. If he did end up going here, that would be great,” Bob said. “I don’t know if I would keep the ‘Robert’ name alive, I guess I’d have to cover that with the wife at the time.”

Robert A. said he is glad the tradition has been able to continue this far.

“I see him developing the same way I did, and I see the confidence in him,” he said. “When I see him out there playing for the Blugolds, I see it really coming into a full circle and that is really satisfying.”