Facts:   - death place: athens , georgia    - nicknames: `` bob ''    - weight: 195 lb kg on    - height: 6 ft 4 in m on    - death date: 11 january 1960      - strokes: backstroke    - fullname: robert elmer cowell    - birth date: 12 june 1924    - name: bob cowell    - birth place: pennsylvania    - collegeteam: u.s. naval academy   Based on these bullet points, write a short biography describing the life of bob cowell -lrb- swimmer -rrb- .
Answer:
robert elmer cowell -lrb- june 12 , 1924 -- january 11 , 1960 -rrb- was an american competition swimmer , olympic medalist , and u.s. navy officer .at the 1948 summer olympics in london , england , he received a silver medal for his second-place performance in the men 's 100-meter backstroke , finishing with a time of 1:06.5 immediately behind fellow american allen stack .cowell attended the u.s. naval academy , where he was a member of the navy midshipmen swimming and diving team in national collegiate athletic association -lrb- ncaa -rrb- competition from 1944 to 1946 .he was a member of navy 's ncaa championship team in the 3x100-yard medley relay in 1944 , and won the individual ncaa national championship in the 150-yard backstroke in 1946 .he was also the amateur athletic union -lrb- aau -rrb- national champion in the 100-meter outdoor backstroke in 1945 and the 150-yard indoor backstroke in 1947 .after graduating from the naval academy , he became a career u.s. navy officer .he died in athens , georgia in 1960 ; he was 35 years old .in his memory , the naval academy annually presents the robert e. cowell award to the graduating midshipmen who has shown outstanding swimming ability , leadership and good sportsmanship .