A 1961 graduate of RFHS, Bob earned 10 varsity letters in the sports of Cross Country, Basketball, Track and Baseball.

While known as one of the best all-around athletes at RFHS during his four years. During his senior year Bob was co-captain on the Track and Baseball squads. Bob was a standout baseball player. During his senior season, Bob led the Rockets and the conference with a .596 batting average. He also led the team and conference with 41 stolen bases. The .596 batting average and 41 stolen bases are still Rocket single season records.

Bob continued his athletic career at Northern Illinois University and then at Murray State University participating in track. After college Bob joined the work force as an educator, teaching at the grade school and junior college levels for over 43 years. He has continued to be involved in athletics by coaching, broadcasting, refereeing and working behind the scenes of numerous athletic teams and organizations, notably, Bob coached basketball on the youth, AAU, and semi-pro levels for some 30 years, winning 30 League championships and 52 tournament championships. His semi-pro team, the Armstrong Racers, over a 10 year period won over 500 games and only lost 17 times. Bob has refereed on the grade school, high school and college levels for 46 years. Bob joins his father Robert Callighan as the second father-son members of the RFHS Hall of Fame