
As Steve Rudman wrote in his book Who the Hell is Bob? The Man Behind The Magic, "Fiction would have rejected Bob Walsh out of hand."
Bob was born near Boston in 1940, attended a liberal arts college in Ohio, and began his varied career as a radio and television producer in Boston and Los Angeles. He went to Seattle with Bill Russell in 1973 to help run the Seattle Supersonics NBA franchise, became a sports agent, and then evolved into a promoter, businessman, humanitarian, back-channel ambassador and citizen diplomat.
Bob is adept at:
He has traveled to three dozen countries, coordinating events and forming nonprofits that have brought medical care, nutritional support, education and community investments worth nearly $1 billion--to over seven million people.
His resume includes such diverse accomplishments as:
Tying together these sometimes seemingly disparate enterprises and achievements is a single thread: Bob finds it irresistible to help. His passion for extensive entrepreneurial projects and sweeping humanitarian ventures is driven by extreme generosity.
Bob attributes his success as an instrument for change to many fortunate attributes, the most remarkable of which is an attitude that simply refuses to entertain thoughts of obstacles or impossibility. Bob offers powerful motivational speaking about cultivating this mindset.
Bob is currently at work organizing One World 2011, a reprise of the Goodwill Games designed to meet today's challenges toward world peace.
Bob's persistence, courage, and empathy, expressed through a wide range of political and social efforts, have earned him the Martin Luther King, Jr. Award from Coretta King, the "Supreme Soviet Award" from President Gorbachev, the World Affairs Council Award, recognition as an Honorary Citizen of the Republic of Georgia, and special recognition from Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush.
This is the rollicking story of one of America's little-known but most successful entrepreneurs “riding the wild dream” as Norman Cousins called it. Author Steve Rudman uses wry and witty prose to relate seemingly preposterous tales about Bob and his astonishing antics. More than one influential billionaire, a prominent atheist and famous cardinal, the KKK, CIA, and KGB, several U.S. presidents, a host of sports stars, and Hollywood celebrities are just a few of the characters who play parts in this fast-paced nonfiction novel. Hundreds of pictures feature Bob with some of the most prominent figures and events of the twentieth century.
In this interview, Eduarde Shevardnadze (president of the Republic of Georgia and former Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs) states unequivocally his gratitude for the tremendous care, aid and healing Bob brought to his country.
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Find out how you can book Bob Walsh for your next event.
Watch this video clip of Bob's speaking engagements.