Bob Flanagan was a three-sport star at Spalding Institute who went on to earn Little All American recognition in football at Bradley and at St. Ambrose College.

Flanagan was a superb breakway runner who was named the most valuable player in Greater Peoria in 1946 as he was making two all-state teams. He also starred in basketball and baseball at Spalding.

He led Bradley in pass receiving and scoring in 1949, ran for 710 yards in just 129 carries and was 26th in the nation in rushing. Included was a 96-yard jaunt against Louisiana Tech, the longest run from scrimmage in the nation that season.

Transferring to St. Ambrose for the 1951-52 season, Flanagan ran for 1,300 yards in 1951. He was the No. 2 rusher in the nation among small colleges and made the Associated Press Little All-American team.

He was named St. Ambrose's Athlete of the Year for 1952 and entered that school's Hall of Fame in 1979.