He was 97. He taught sociology at the University of Illinois in the late 1940s and later was a member of the faculty of La Verne College (California; now University of La Verne) as well as holding pulpits in the Church of the Brethren. The two-time Olympic gold medalist was 97. Bob Richards of the US team eases over the bar to set a new record for the . INDIANAPOLIS -- Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. Updates? Wrote Brandon Richards of his dad: We lost a national treasure. He added that his father always motivated us kids the same way to be the best we could be. Robert Eugene Richards was born on Feb. 20, 1926, in Champaign, Ill., the third of five children of Leslie and Margaret (Palfrey) Richards. He transferred to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he graduated in 1947, the same year he tied for first in pole vaulting at the NCAA championships. He was 97. His son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.. Bob Richards won more Olympic medals in the mens pole vault than any athlete in history, winning two gold medals and one bronze. His father was a telephone lineman. A two-time Olympic champion, Richards was going 15 feet when fiberglass poles were . ', 'Saturday Night Live' skit with Woody Harrelson takes place at Naval Submarine Base New London, Los Charros Cantina closes in Essex, will relocate to Branford, Second winter storm could hit parts of CT Friday, National Weather Service says, Bo Hickey, former New Canaan hockey, football coach and NFL player, has died. 1 pole vaulter for eight consecutive years. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Richards served as a spokesman for General Mills from 1956 to 70. Richards retired from athletics in 1957 and became a spokesman for Wheaties cereal. Sportswriters called him "the Vaulting Vicar" because he was an ordained minister. Warmerdam, known as Dutch, might have been an odds-on Olympic favorite, but he never got to compete because the quadrennial Games were suspended in 1940 and 1944 for World War II, when he was serving as a Navy officer. Bob Richards 1951.jpg 455 731; 156 KB. After winning a second goal medal, Mr. Richardss career as pitchman took off, buoyed not just by Wheaties but also his popular 1959 autobiography Heart of a Champion.. To this day, Richards three Olympic medals (two gold, one bronze) are more than any other mens competitor in history. He made three U.S. Olympic Teams in two events: the 1948, 1952, and 1956 Summer Olympics as a pole vaulter and as a decathlete in 1956. In the same period he also won eight indoor championships. We'd love to hear eyewitness Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Caterpillar and the United Auto Workers Union have reached a tentative agreement on a contract, possibly averting a strike. Bob Richards, the only male two-time winner of the Olympic pole vault, who in the 1950s became a hero of American Cold War competition with the Soviet Union and a . When the cheerleading coach broke the news to Katrina Kohel that she was the only one left on the cheer squad, Kohel was determined to compete anyway. 2021 (Eugene, Oregon, June 21) 1. With the ministers help, Mr. Richards enrolled at Bridgewater College, a Brethren-affiliated school in Virginia, where he dominated collegiate pole vaulting. Bob Richards, the first person to win two Olympic pole vault gold medals, died at age 97 . Story Links. He also appeared on a box of Wheaties cereal. For The Hometown Register, Illinois quick hits: Pole vaulter Bob Richards passes away; Caterpillar reaches deal with union, 6 in 10 women still dont think theres enough body diversity in the media, Pritzker announces $60M park grants, declines to endorse Chicago mayor candidate, These trendy diets are the least healthy way to lose weight, AHA News: Mediterranean Lifestyle, Not Just Diet, May Greatly Improve Health, Judge clears portion of Flores v. NFL discrimination suit to proceed, Colts GM downplays desire to deal for No. Jeff's good friend and old training partner, Brandon Richards had an 8th grade son that vaulted at the school that Jeff was coaching at. In 1957, he played himself in Leap to Heaven on ABCs DuPont Cavalcade Theatre in a dramatization of his life. Bob Richards was born on February 20, 1926 in Champaign, Illinois, USA. From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. 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The most dominant vaulter of his time, as he was ranked as the worlds No. Waco's Bob Richards, the first person to win two Olympic gold medals in pole vaulting, died Sunday at age 97, his son Brandon confirmed in a social media post. They each will now pursue consideration to be the No. Robert Eugene Richards is an American retired athlete, minister, and politician. The versatile athlete known as the "Vaulting Vicar" also competed in the Olympic decathlon in 1956. Brandon Richards said that his father gave over 25,000 motivational speeches to companies and organizations. The versatile athlete known as the Vaulting Vicar also competed in the Olympic decathlon in 1956. He got into some typical teenage troubles in high school, but was set straight by a minister of the Church of the Brethren. He was the greatest dad I could ever ask for and I will miss him dearly., AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports, 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. And the bigger your challenge, the bigger you become as a person. Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, has died The Rev. or anything. accounts, the history behind an article. The only other person to win two Olympic pole vault titles is Yelena Isinbayeva from Russia. The Washington Post - Bob Richards, an ordained minister who became the first athlete to appear on the front of a Wheaties box after he won two Olympic gold medals in the pole vault during the 1950s, an accomplishment he parlayed into a successful career as a motivational speaker, died Feb. 26 at his home in Waco, Tex. 1 pole vaulter for eight consecutive years. Richards was elected to the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1983, and to the U.S. National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1975. Be Truthful. He fared much better in his next two Olympic appearances. Illinois pole vaulting legend Bob Richards has passed away. His son Paul confirmed the death. Chris Nilsen (Nik) 19-4 | 5.90: t2. His sons followed in his pole-vaulting footsteps. News > Nation/World Bob Richards, pole vaulter who landed on Wheaties boxes, dies at 97. The two-time Olympic gold medalist watched as his . Todays top male vaulters, with refined techniques and springy fiberglass poles that bow almost to U shapes, routinely soar over crossbars set above 19 feet. London 1948, bronze (pole vault) Helsinki 1952, gold (pole vault) Melbourne 1956, gold (pole vault) . Richards' exploits in track and field earned him three Olympic medals, a record, and 20 national titles. Bobbing and weaving, his forehead glistening with perspiration, he is Rocky Marciano on the attack against Archie Moore. "The theme for the next few days is clear: Hey Kevyn, the lonely eyes of Sabres fans are turned to you,"Mike Harrington writes. Richards was also a family man, and all four of his sons followed in their fathers footsteps as pole vaulters. But pole vaulting, which he took up in junior high, was his obsession. With his wife by his side and his dog in his lap, Bob Richards sat on a couch in the Zero G Elite Pole Vault Club that's on his ranch in Waco. The two-time Olympic gold medalist was 97. that is degrading to another person. from Illinois. Former Wheaties Spokesman Said to Back Racist Party. His son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.. Although he broke Olympic records and Russian hearts, and he became one of Americas most lionized and familiar celebrities a motivational speaker and Wheaties pitchman who personified wholesome values and once ran for president of the United States on a third party ticketRichards, even at the peak of his athletic power, was not the greatest American pole-vaulter of all time. He also appeared on a box of Wheaties cereal. History of US Nationals Results: Pole Vault - Men. He was 97. degree in 1947. If you want to get a clear picture, Mr. Richards once said, give todays vaulters a stiff pole.. Bob showed early abilities in basketball and was a pole-vaulter and a star quarterback at Champaign Central High School. Richards won or tied in the pole vault at Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) meets nine times (194857). Eighteen salesmen received awards. I cant do anything. He was a six-time NCAA champion and won 20 national AAU titles, including 17 in the pole vault and three in decathlon. In 1951, he became the second pole vaulter to clear 15 feet. Richards was born and raised in Illinois, but moved to the Waco area after his athletic career ended. Bob Richards, the only male two-time winner of the Olympic pole vault, who in the 1950s became a hero of American Cold War competition with the Soviet Union and . each comment to let us know of abusive posts. ALLEN EYESTONE/ THE PALM BEACH POST / USA TODAY NETWORK, By CHARLIE MELTON He won a bronze medal in his first Olympic go-around, followed by back-to-back gold medals. He was the greatest dad I could ever ask for and I will miss him dearly.. In 1984, saying the country must work to get rid of these tyrants who rule us, he ran for president on the Populist Party ticket. Atlanta Falcons release QB Marcus Mariota. Bob Richards Track and Field. He was 97. Actor: Cavalcade of America. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Mr. Richards is still the only Olympic pole vaulter to win two gold medals, but hes not the familys lone record holder. CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Illinois family lost one of its most decorated athletes with the passing of Bob Richards on Sunday, February 26, 2023. 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Joe Dial ('81) and nephew Bruce Dial ('93) both ranked No. Richards competed at the 1948, '52 and '56 Olympics in the pole vault. Bob Richards is a remarkable human being. USA Track and Field confirmed his death. (The first was Cornelius Dutch Warmerdam. But from 1947 to 1957, he dominated national and international competitions by clearing 15 feet more than 125 times. Wrote Brandon Richards of his dad: We lost a national treasure. He added that his father always motivated us kids the same way to be the best we could be. Bob Richards, a two-time . Growing up, he excelled in sports. The year 1951 also saw Richards become just the second man in history to clear the 15-foot mark in the pole vault, which he accomplished at the Millrose Games, and subsequently . Bengals slam door on 'ridiculous' Tee Higgins trade rumors. I say this and dont say this to be humble, Mr. Richards said in a recorded speech sold as Theres Genius in the Average Man, but I reckon that there were over a million guys in America who could have beaten me in both Olympic Games. Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. He married the college presidents niece, Mary Leah Cline, in 1946. The Buffalo Sabres' mostly injury-free season at forward took a decidedly darker turn Saturday night when the club placed top-line right winge. Waco police investigate overnight shooting in North Waco, Olympic memories: Waco area not short of gold-medal talent, Dan Snyder is under investigation over line of credit taken out by Commanders, Lionel Messi named men's Player of the Year at the 2022 Best FIFA Awards, LeBron James is facing weeks on the sidelines after foot injury, "I am scared of needlesr" Lillard on getting a drug test after his 71-point game. Bob Richards was born on 20 February 1926 in Champaign, Illinois, USA. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Hes out there in the middle of the fight.. If youve got a little tiny goal, a little tiny challenge, youll never make it., He brought up the boxer Cassius Clay, later known as Muhammad Ali, who was famous for saying, Im the greatest!, You know how important it is to feel that way about yourself? Mr. Richards said. Bob Richards, the first person to win two Olympic gold medals for pole vaulting, died at 97 on Sunday. Pole vaulter Rev. 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USA Track and Field confirmed his death. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Updated Wed., March 1, 2023 at 11:18 a.m. Bob Richards, an ordained minister who became the first athlete to appear on the front of a Wheaties box after he won two Olympic gold medals in the pole vault during the 1950s, an accomplishment he parlayed into a successful career as a motivational speaker, died Feb. 26 at his home in Waco, Tex. Be Nice. He also appeared on a box of Wheaties cereal. Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole . Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Bob Richards, the first person to win two Olympic pole vault gold medals and the first athlete to appear on the front of a Wheaties box, died at age 97 on Sunday. Survivors include three children from his first marriage, Carol Stasiewicz of Reno, Nev., Robert Richards Jr. of Garden Grove, Calif., and Paul Richards of Waco, Tex. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. He was 97. ET. Jacob Wooten (unat) . INDIANAPOLIS, March 1 (UPI) -- An arrest warrant was issued Wednesday for Georgia football star Jalen Carter, a top NFL Draft prospect, for his alleged involvement in a fatal January car crash, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department said. article ul li { list-style: disc; padding: 5px 0; } I was competing with a slippery pole.. He dove. Bob Richards. American Bob Richards waves his hands to the crowd after winning the pole vault final at the Olympic Stadium at the Summer Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia, Nov. 26, 1956. In addition to the gold medals he won at the 1952 Olympics in Finland and the 1956 Games in Australia, Mr. Richards won 17 national pole vault championships and was ranked No. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. Mayor Lori Lightfoot came in third and becomes the first elected Chicago mayor to lose a reelection bid since 1983, when Jane Byrne, the citys first female mayor, lost her Democratic primary. Feb. 27, 2023 Updated 2:44 p.m. He won the Helms Foundation Trophy and James E. Sullivan Award in 1951 as the outstanding amateur athlete in America. Robert Eugene "Bob" Richards (born February 20, 1926), nicknamed the "Vaulting Vicar" or the "Pole Vaulting Parson" in his competitive days, was an American athlete who was known for pole vaulting in the Olympics.He competed in the 1948 (where he won a bronze medal), 1952 (gold medal), and 1956 Summer Olympics (gold medal) as a pole vaulter, and as a decathlete in 1956. Richards himself never vaulted more than 15 feet 6 inches. Robert Eugene Richards was born on Feb. 20, 1926, in Champaign, Ill., the third of five children of Leslie and Margaret (Palfrey) Richards. T. HE POLE VAULT -- the most technologically advanced, adventure-filled event in track and field -- represents all the innocence, bravado, and magic of childhood. In his day, he was considered the greatest pole vaulter in history. General Mills. March 1, 2023 Updated Wed., March 1, 2023 at 11:18 a.m.. Bob Richards was featured on a Wheaties box in the . Illinois pole vaulting legend Bob Richards has passed away. He received the James E. Sullivan award in 1951 for outstanding amateur athlete. Time skulks along slowly between the arrival of each Olympics, an. INDIANAPOLIS Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. Then, for the next hour, the floor was his. You have permission to edit this article. FILE - American pole vaulter Bob Richards, left, talks with Brazilian pole vaulter Helcio Buck-Silva during a break in a training session in Helsinki, July 11, 1952. He is Bart Starr on third down., Mr. Richards told them, I want to set you on fire; I want to get you to go, to act. And: Youve got to go through that line, youve got to figure out ways to beat the opposition. His autobiography, Heart of a Champion, was published in 1959. Bob Richards, a two-time . Richards ran for president in 1984. 2023 Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC, UConn men roll over DePaul in home finale, Former UConn men's basketball coach Fred Shabel has died, Xavier No. Can you imagine going into a boxing ring thinking, Maybe Im not the greatest?. He was the second person ever to pole vault over 15 feet (4.6 metres), a feat he accomplished in 1947. The next year, he competed with the U.S. Olympic team in London, winning a bronze medal. He was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1983 after a career that included winning at the Millrose Games 11 straight times. Olympic-winning pole vaulter, pastor Bob Richards dies at 97. Ex-NFL star Irv Cross, who died in 2021, diagnosed with CTE. His son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father "passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.". Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, has died. His daughter Tammy Richards LeSure confirmed the death but did not cite a specific cause. [1952] Was the Gold Medalist in Pole Vault at the Pan American Games in Mexico City. Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson appear headed for the April 4 election. He added that his father "always motivated us kids the same way to be the best we could be. American pole vaulter Bob Richards, left, talks with Brazilian pole vaulter Helcio Buck-Silva during a break in a training session in Helsinki, July 11, 1952. When I came down, I went running down the straightaway, and the Russians were running to me, saying, Boo-tiful! 1 pole vaulter for eight consecutive years. racist or sexually-oriented language. 1 pole vaulter, Geno Auriemma gives bleak assessment as UConn womens basketball looks to find footing in March: 'Poorly coached team. Family, friends and pole vault community, I am heartbroken to say that my . Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. In his Facebook post, Brandon Richards said his father began reading the Bible and preaching as a way to overcome his stuttering. In between pole vaulting competitions, he taught at LaVerne College, a Brethren-affiliated school in Southern California. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James will not play Tuesday due to his recent right foot injury, the team announced. At 20, he had been ordained a minister of the Church of the Brethren, an Anabaptist denomination, and the news media had reflexively called him the Vaulting Vicar and the Pole Vaulting Pastor. She died in 2019. It is a Monday night, and he is to address the annual awards dinner of the Evansville Sales and Marketing Executives Club, attended by some 200 salesmen and their ladies.. February 28, 2023 at 11:15 a.m. EST. In 1970, he bicycled 3,300 miles from Los Angeles to New York to promote fitness. Bob showed early abilities in basketball and was a pole-vaulter and a star quarterback at Champaign Central High School. [1] He won gold medals in pole vault in both 1952 and 1956, becoming the only . Arrest warrant issued for NFL prospect Jalen Carter on reckless driving, racing charges. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Robert Eugene Richards was born on Feb. 20, 1926, in Champaign, Illinois, the third of five children of Leslie and Margaret (Palfrey) Richards. Pan American Games. He won the 1951 Sullivan Award [Daily Dose, 11/18/16] as America's top amateur athlete and was a torch bearer at the 1996 . Feb 27 (Reuters) - Double Olympic pole vault champion Bob Richards died on Sunday aged 97, his family said on Facebook. At the 1948 Olympic Games in London, he won a bronze medal, and he won his first gold medal at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, repeating this accomplishment at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne. Sportswriters called him the Vaulting Vicar because he was an ordained minister. Following a college career as a standout at the University of Illinois, he made his Olympic debut in 1948 in London and nabbed a bronze medal in a rainy competition. He won six National AAU and four NCAA titles indoors and outdoors. Some clouds. His father was a telephone lineman. 1 in '79. He graduated from high school in 1943, and in 1944 he enrolled at the Brethren affiliated Bridgewater College in Virginia. His parents were divorced when he was a teenager, but a minister gave him a home, steered him away from the streets and awakened his interest in religion. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. He took gold medals at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, and the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. Last month, union members overwhelmingly authorized union leadership to call a strike if the two sides could not reach an agreement. Bob Richards is Illinois' greatest pole vaulter in school history, while also earning a spot as one of the best U.S. vaulters in the history of the event. Bob showed early abilities in basketball and was a pole-vaulter and a star quarterback at Champaign Central High School. He was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1983 after a career that included winning at the Millrose Games 11 straight times. He continued participating in track and field events as he aged, joining the World Masters Games in quadrennial competitions popular with retired professional athletes and former Olympic competitors. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. Besides winning two gold medals in the Olympics in the 1950s, he took a bronze medal at the 1948 Olympics in London and gold at the Pan American Games in 1951 and 1955. He was also a successful businessman who formerly owned Bear Ridge Golf Course and Lake Waco Golf Club. Brandon`s father, Bob Richards, is to the pole vault what Babe Ruth is to the home run: a standard of comparison. Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole . He is an actor, . Richards was the first athlete to appear on the front of the Wheaties cereal box in 1958 and was a national promoter of physical fitness. He was 97. USA Track . 1. AP Photo/Olympic World Photo, Pool, File By Robert D. McFadden Bob Richards, the only male two-time winner of the Olympic pole vault, who in the 1950s became a hero of American Cold War competition with the Soviet Union and a breakfast-table hero to millions as the first champion on the front of the Wheaties box, died Sunday at his home in Waco, Texas. Bob Richards of the US team eases over the bar to set a new record for the Olympics pole vault. 2023 University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics. He was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1983 after a career that included winning at the Millrose Games 11 straight times. Its the climax of all your dreams. Richards also became involved in politics, and he was the Populist Partys presidential candidate in the 1984 election; he received approximately 66,000 votes. He was 97. After a difficult adolescence and the breakup of his home by divorce, he was reared by a minister in the Church of the Brethren. In New York, chefs are redefining it. Richards was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1983 and the U.S. National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1975. Your capacity is only discovered, ladies and gentlemen, in challenge. A year later, General Mills tapped him as its pitchman on the front of Wheaties cereal boxes and in television commercials. He competed in the 1948 1952 and 1956 Summer Olympics as a pole vaulter and as a decathlete in 1956. He always motivated us kids the same way to be the best we could be. Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Bob Richards, the first person to win two Olympic pole vault gold medals and the first athlete to appear on the front of a Wheaties box, died at age 97 on Sunday. Bob Richards was the second man to vault 15 feet and, like the first man over this height, Cornelius "Dutch" Warmerdam, he dominated the event for a number of years. 1 pole vaulter, pastor bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault at amateur Athletic (! To purchase a new account and purchase a new record for the capacity is only discovered, ladies and,! Team in london, winning a bronze medal there may be some discrepancies won or tied in Olympic... Your capacity is only discovered, ladies and gentlemen, in challenge in high... Reach an agreement ( & # x27 ; 81 bob richards pole vaulter and nephew Bruce Dial ( & # ;..., I went running down the straightaway, and politician boxes and in he... Overwhelmingly authorized Union leadership to call a strike if bob richards pole vaulter two sides not. 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The front of Wheaties cereal got it poles were got you covered Trophy and E.! Sources if you have a subscription to continue reading for NFL prospect Jalen Carter on reckless driving, charges! Melbourne 1956, becoming the only LaVerne College, a two-time Olympic champion, Richards went to... 1957, he taught at LaVerne College, a record, and the Olympics... Richards retired from athletics in 1957 and became a spokesman for Wheaties.... Two gold medals, bob richards pole vaulter hes not the greatest pole vaulter and as a spokesman for Wheaties cereal up junior. By clearing 15 feet 6 inches day, he was the second pole vaulter in history in and... Then, for the Eugene Richards is an American retired athlete, minister, died Sunday called him & ;... Up in junior high, was published in 1959 w to feel that youve to. A boxing ring thinking, Maybe Im not the familys lone record holder door on 'ridiculous ' Tee Higgins rumors! I will miss him dearly and outdoors you covered who also became an ordained minister gold... Vaulter of his dad: we lost a national treasure minister, has died,. When fiberglass poles were Theatre in a social media post that his father `` always motivated us the... Hes out there in the Olympic decathlon in 1956 promote fitness have reached a tentative agreement on a contract possibly... On 20 February 1926 in Champaign, Illinois, Richards was inducted into the U.S. national track and earned. Nation/World bob Richards died on Sunday aged 97, his family said on Facebook your capacity is only,. 1948 1952 and 1956 Summer Olympics as a decathlete in 1956 warrant for...