By Staff
Story and photo by Lydia Grimes
It's not very often that a person changes his vocation so drastically as Bob Eisenburg, but it does happen.
While he was serving in the military in Germany, Eisenburg became a professional wrestler. He became known as the Cobra Kid and as Hans Eisenburg in the wrestling ring. At the time he was in the U. S. Air Force and playing on the Air Force Football team where he was voted all-star defensive tackle in 1961. Someone suggested he try his hand at wrestling and found that he was pretty good at it.
Eisenburg doesn't want to be known for his wrestling abilities, but rather would rather be remembered for his work as a Baptist minister who has helped lead others to Christ.
He grew up in Atlanta and entered the U.S. Air Force in 1951, just in time to be sent to Korea. He served during 1951 and 1952 doing combat defense and was on a ship coming home when he heard that the war was over.
After coming back to the United States from Korea, Eisenburg stayed in the Air Force and served in Vietnam. He won the Vietnamese Medal of Honor by schooling them in how to respond to terrorist activities. He also won the Bronze Star and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
By the time he retired from the military in 1971, he had his sights set on something else.
He attended Baptist Bible Institute in Graceville, Fla., and pastored at DeFuniak Springs, Crestview, Lamar, S.C., and then Brewton.
He came to Brewton in 1981 to pastor at Ridge Road Baptist Church. He stayed there for four years and then was sent to Niceville, Fla.
In 1982 he received a call from Holman Prison in Atmore. They wanted to try to congregate and have him preach a revival to the 87 prisoners on death row. That ministry lasted five years and continued even after he left Brewton.
He drove back and forth several times a week to continue his ministry at Holman.
Eisenburg met his wife, Jessie, at a basketball tournament while he was in the military. They have three children, Audie, Belinda and Cres. They also have three grandchildren who live in Crestview.
Bob and Jessie Eisenbury are building a home on Alabama 29 North and are almost finished.
He likes to play golf and collect books by old time preachers. His life has settled down after the busy schedule of entertainment with the wrestling and ministering to the many people he has met along the way.
Even so, he is still ready to answer the call should someone need him.