Don Koehler

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Donald A. Koehler (September 1, 1925 – February 26, 1981) is one of a dozen individuals in medical history to reach a verified height of eight feet 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 8 feet, 2 inches tall (249cm.), 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 mom was 5' 10", their dad was 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 8' 2" tall at his peak. His twin sister was 5' 9" for a record difference of 29 inches 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 7 ft. 10 in. (239 cm.) tall. He was 55 years old.