It was while Robert was a student at the York CollegiateInstitute, a private preparatory school in York, Pa. that hefinished second in the 100-yard breaststroke at the 1935 nationalinterscholastic championships, earning a berth on the prepAll-America swim team. He matriculated at F&M the next year,and a great collegiate swimming career was launched. A breaststrokespecialist, Spangler also swam relays and other events to help anF&M team short on manpower. During the 1937 season, Spanglerrecorded eight firsts and two seconds, swimming the 200-yardbreaststroke during dual meets, finished second in the same eventat the Eastern Collegiate Swimming Championships, and participatedon the 300-yard medley relay that set a pool and F&M record of3:09.
The next year, the medley team won six races without a loss,Spangler won six 200-yard breaststroke events, seta pool record of2:43.3 against Villanova, and placed third in the EasternCollegiate Swimming Championships (ECSC). In addition, he was thesilver medalist in the 200-yard breaststroke at the national YMCAChampionships. In 1939, as the team captain, he closed out abrilliant collegiate swimming career by winning the 200-yardbreaststroke at the ECSC, which was the equivalent of the presentday NCAA championship. Spangler's collegiate record time in the200-yard breaststroke stood from 1937 to 1964. He graduated in 1939with a degree in history, and attended dental school and returnedto York, where he practiced pediatric dentistry until hisretirement.
Spangler may have retired from the professional world, but henever retired from swimming, participating in many age-group meets.The highlight of his masters swimming career came in June, 1992,when Spangler swan in the Pennsylvania Senior Games at ShippensburgUniversity. He won the gold medals in the 50-yard breaststroke,50-yard butterfly, and 100-yard individual medley in the 75-79 agegroup. His performance qualified him for the National Senior Games,which were held in June 1993, although surgery prevented him fromparticipating. Spangler lives in York, Pa.
