Rick Jordan emailed a few minutes ago to inform me that Bob Rule, one of the seminal figures of the commercial slot racing industy and hobby, passed away this morning, after recent triple bypass surgery.
I knew he wouldn't live forever, as none of us will, but he seemed so vibrant and strong for his age that I thought he would be around for many years to come. We lived just a few miles apart and would sometimes have lunch, but Bob was always so busy (for example, he served 30 years as the sergeant-at-arms for the Rotary Club of Gwinnett County and was very active in that organization), as was I.
Bob was a member at Slotblog for over 17 years, having joined in September 2007.
Goodbye, old friend. I'm going to miss you.
- Bob Rule_1.jpg (57.75 KiB) Viewed 437 times
From a Facebook post by Bob's widow and daughter:
"It is with very heavy heart that we come together as a family and announce that the Legend, the ONE & ONLY Mr Yo-Yo passed away yesterday morning. He took pride in telling people that he never truly "worked" for a living since both his careers were a true passion that took him all over the world, enabling him to meet some of the coolest people & do the coolest things. His mottos were "He who dies with the most toys wins" and "The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys." He will be missed by SO many people.
Bob Rule grew up in Detroit, MI, and began yo-yoing as a young boy in 1948. He entered his first yo-yo contest in 1949 and in 1952, began working part-time for Donald F. Duncan, Incorporated, managing yo-yo contests and demonstrations in the Detroit area. In 1955, he went to work full-time for Duncan as a professional yo-yo demonstrator. In this role, he traveled across the United States and to Canada, Puerto Rico, and Mexico demonstrating yo-yo tricks, managing yo-yo contests, and appearing on local television.
He entered his first contest in 1949 and at just 12-years-old, he won a Duncan Yo-Yo contest on a street corner.
Guide to the Bob Rule Papers at the Smithsonion
As I recall, he even came to Australia promoting the Yo-Yo craze, back in the day.
He will, I am sure, be sorely Missed by Many.
Condolences to his Family and Friends, may he Rest in Peace.