Don Koehler
Encyclopedia
Donald A. Koehler is one of thirteen individuals in medical history to reach a verified height of eight feet (244 cm) or more. He was generally recognized as the tallest man in the world from at least 1969 until his death in 1981. At one time, Koehler stood 249 cm (8' 2") tall, a result of the medical condition acromegalic
gigantism
.
He was born in Denton
, Montana
, USA. Koehler and his fraternal twin sister were born to parents of above average height (their mother was 178 cm (5' 10"), their father was 188 cm (6' 2")). He started an abnormal period of growth when he was 10 years old. The Guinness Book of World Records confirmed Koehler at a standing height of 249 cm (8' 2") in tall at his peak. His twin sister was 175 cm (5' 9") for a record difference of 74 cm (29") between the two twins as recognized by Guinness.
Later in life, he suffered from the medical condition kyphosis
, resulting in (often severe) curvature of the spine.
Koehler died in 1981 in Chicago
from a reported heart condition, by which time he was estimated to be about 239 cm (7' 10") tall. He was 55 years old.
Acromegaly
Acromegaly is a syndrome that results when the anterior pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone after epiphyseal plate closure at puberty...
gigantism
Gigantism
Gigantism, also known as giantism , is a condition characterized by excessive growth and height significantly above average...
.
He was born in Denton
Denton, Montana
Denton is a town in Fergus County, Montana, United States. The population was 301 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Denton is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, USA. Koehler and his fraternal twin sister were born to parents of above average height (their mother was 178 cm (5' 10"), their father was 188 cm (6' 2")). He started an abnormal period of growth when he was 10 years old. The Guinness Book of World Records confirmed Koehler at a standing height of 249 cm (8' 2") in tall at his peak. His twin sister was 175 cm (5' 9") for a record difference of 74 cm (29") between the two twins as recognized by Guinness.
Later in life, he suffered from the medical condition kyphosis
Kyphosis
Kyphosis , also called roundback or Kelso's hunchback, is a condition of over-curvature of the thoracic vertebrae...
, resulting in (often severe) curvature of the spine.
Koehler died in 1981 in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
from a reported heart condition, by which time he was estimated to be about 239 cm (7' 10") tall. He was 55 years old.