Growing up in Michigan, Bob Roop enjoyed a fine amateur career. He was state high school champion his senior year for East Lansing and then entered Michigan State on a football scholarship. After a year and a half at MSU, he joined the Army and made the All-Service team. He also trained in the Green Berets program as a paratrooper. After leaving the service, Bob wrestled in college at Southern Illinois-Carbondale and made the 1968 Olympic team, placing eighth in the Games in Mexico City. He captured the national AAU heavyweight championship in Greco-Roman wrestling in 1969 and placed in the nationals in both freestyle and Greco-Roman several times. He was introduced to the professional wrestling world by Lars Anderson and started out with Eddie Graham in Florida. He worked as a professional for 18 years, and traveled the world, wrestling in Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, England, Scotland, Germany and Iraq. Bob reigned as NWA United States Champion and won numerous regional titles, both as a single performer and as part of a tag team. After retiring he worked as a booker. He authored several books and today does volunteer work with scouting and schools.