Cal Poly Athletics Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1995
An outstanding football and baseball player while at Cal Poly, Robert Neal was a star quarterback and pitcher for the Mustangs.
Bob played on one of the most memorable teams in Mustang annals, the undefeated 1953 gridiron squad. He was an All-CCAA quarterback that season and made the UPI all-star team that year, as the Mustangs posted an amazing slate of 9-0 under Coach Roy Hughes. A junior, Bob led the offense to 395 points, while the defense allowed just 65. He completed 22 of 62 passes for 406 yards and five touchdowns.
The magical season began with a 27-6 win at Fresno State. That season Bob and Mary Neal had their first of three children.
As a sophomore in 1952, Bob connected on 34 of 87 passes for 632 yards eight scores. He shared quarterbacking duties with Jerry Duncan as a senior in 1954, completing 28 of 66 passes for 439 yards and four touchdowns.
The Mustangs went 27-11-1 with Bob at quarterback. He passed for 1,477 yards and 17 touchdowns in his three-year Mustang varsity career. Bob also participated in baseball and boxing as a Cal Poly athlete.
After his playing days, he became one of the most active members of the community. Bob is past president of a variety of organizations, including the American Cancer Society, San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce and the Mustang Boosters. He was awarded the Junior Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service award in 1969.
Bob spent 40 years with Neal-Truesdale Insurance, Inc., in San Luis Obispo before purchasing a cow and calf ranch. He spends most of his time on his ranch and has been competing in rodeos. He has three children, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
