New York City Councilman Robert Cornegy Jr. stands at a staggering 6 feet 10 inches tall. He can barely fit on a subway (very little headroom), and shopping for footwear can be somewhat of a challenge (where exactly does one buy size 17 shoes?).
On Wednesday, the 53-year-old was honored with the Guinness World Record title of world’s tallest politician.
“When I first started this, I said there is no way I’m the tallest politician in the world. There must be an ambassador in Africa who is seven feet,” he joked to The New York Times.
The Brooklyn councilman, who represents Bedford-Stuyvesant and northern Crown Heights, decided to give the title a shot when he found out the previous record-holder was a mere 6 feet 7 inches.
“What I went through to get this measurement was borderline ridiculous,” he said.
Cornegy underwent various measurements over one day back in January. He first visited an old trainer at St. John's University, where he played basketball during the mid-1980s. Unfortunately, Guinness wasn’t a fan of the tools the trainer used to measure Cornegy's height. So, the doctors at Interfaith Medical Center in Brooklyn took over. He had his height recorded while lying on the floor and then again while standing with his back pressed against a wall.
"I think it was worth it to bring that designation to New York – and Brooklyn," Cornegy added.
Cornegy easily beat the previous record holder: Louis Gluckstein, a politician from London who stood at a respectable 6 feet, 7 1/2 inches. When Gluckstein passed away in 1979, Archie Hamilton, a 6-foot-6 British member of Parliament, became the new record holder, until Cornegy took the title this year.
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Although he may have some friendly competition for the title, the Brooklyn councilman wants kids to know they don't have to be relegated to an existence because of appearance.
"Follow your passion no matter what other people say you should do. There is more than one way to make a difference!"
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