Robert “Bobby’’ Hicks was a three-sport athlete at McCaskey High School, co-captaining the football team. He received a scholarship to Penn State, playing football his freshman year. When he turned 18, Bob left Penn State to enlist in the US Army, serving in Germany during the occupation until October 1946. He returned to college in 1947, playing on the now famous 1947 Cotton Bowl football team, co-captaining the Penn State football team in 1949, lettering in football all four years.
He coached football at Albright before becoming head coach at Juniata, then at DePauw, the University of Detroit and Wagner College. His 26-year career included four undefeated teams (Juniata '54 and '55, Wagner '64 & ’67). He is a member of the Susquehanna Chapter of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Hall of Fame.