Richards competed at the 1948, 52 and 56 Olympics in the pole vault. In 1958, Olympic pole vaulter Bob Richards became the first athlete to be featured on the front of a Wheaties box. The Populist Party sought to abolish income taxes and the Federal Reserve Bank. Robert E. Richards, an ordained minister nicknamed the Vaulting Vicar, won Olympic gold medals in 1952 at Helsinki and in 1956 at Melbourne, Australia, using aluminum poles to clear bars set at just under 15 feet. Richards was also a family man, and all four of his sons followed in their fathers footsteps as pole vaulters. 'Bo was a legend', 5 CT companies hiring for 100 or more positions, Elizabeth's Cafe in Madison to be razed for new restaurant, housing, The Best Window Replacement Companies in CT, Guide to Legal Cannabis Dispensaries in CT, The Best Kitchen Remodeling Companies in CT, The Best Bathroom Remodeling Companies in CT, Video of fatal police shooting of CT man will not be released yet, Cannabis activists want more CT criminal cases dropped, expunged, CT DOT faces criticism following overnight tree-cutting, Haar: $1M in payouts approved, and CT still has a garbage crisis. In New York, chefs are redefining it. From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. 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. ), Mr. Richards started but didnt complete a doctorate in philosophy. Richards competed at the 1948, '52 . T. HE POLE VAULT -- the most technologically advanced, adventure-filled event in track and field -- represents all the innocence, bravado, and magic of childhood. But they didnt believe they could win the Olympics. Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole . INDIANAPOLIS Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. Richards excelled in basketball, where he was an All Mason/Dixon selection in 1945. . He started at quarterback for his high school football team. The versatile athlete known as the Vaulting Vicar also competed in the Olympic decathlon in 1956. 1 pole vaulter. He also appeared on a box of Wheaties cereal. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Corrections? 2023 University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics. Mr. Richardss 1946 marriage to Mary Leah Cline ended in divorce. Most of us say, Im the worst. Several of his children and grandchildren became competitive pole vaulters, surpassing his 15 feet 6 inches by several feet - though they werent vaulting with a metal pole. History of US Nationals Results: Pole Vault - Men. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Capitalizing on his fame, Richards became director of the Wheaties Sports Federation, founded in 1958 after President Dwight D. Eisenhower called for a national physical fitness campaign. Boo-tiful! This big Russian picked me up and gave me a hug, and that photo was seen all over the world.. He was 97. Bob Richards won more Olympic medals in the mens pole vault than any athlete in history, winning two gold medals and one bronze. 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. Richards is survived by two sons, Paul and Robert Jr., and a daughter, Carol Stasiewicz, from his first marriage; two sons, Thomas and Brandon, and a daughter, Tammy Richards LeSure, from his second; a brother, Kenny; 12 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren. The group, which includes 810 residents, fellows and interns at UB, announced their intent to organize with the Union of American Physicians a. A Facebook post by his son Brandon said that Richards "passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones." 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Bob Richards, two time Olympic Gold Medalist in the pole vault, moved to Waco and the vision became a reality. 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. 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, 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 . In a matter of minutes he has the Evansville salesmen in his grip. The family that plays and prays together stays together, Richards intoned on countless occasions. The salesman is on the field! 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. The two-time Olympic gold medalist was 97. At the 52 Games, the United States was very much engaged in the Cold War with Russia, but Richards befriended his Russian competitors, who in turn cheered when Richards cleared the bar to claim gold. 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. From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. 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. 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. Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James will not play Tuesday due to his recent right foot injury, the team announced. 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 . article ul li { list-style: disc; padding: 5px 0; } Much has changed since Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vaulting champion, was Mr. Wheaties. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Richards' exploits in track and field earned him three Olympic medals, a record, and 20 national titles. 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. 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. Took 1st Place and Gold Medal in Pole Vault at the Olympic Games in Helsinki. So what does Sabres GM Kevyn Adams do this week? 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. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Sabres place Alex Tuch on injured reserve; top-line winger's status is uncertain, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, Paula's Donuts to move Clarence store that faced backlash for tax breaks to Amherst. Bob Richards 1951.jpg 455 731; 156 KB. Low near 40F. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. Upload media . INDIANAPOLIS -- Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. Robert Eugene Richards was born on Feb. 20, 1926, in Champaign, Ill., the third of five children of Leslie and Margaret (Palfrey) Richards. 2021 (Eugene, Oregon, June 21) 1. Story Links. Ex-NFL star Irv Cross, who died in 2021, diagnosed with CTE. 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. He added that his father "always motivated us kids the same way to be the best we could be. He was 97. He won the Helms Foundation Trophy and James E. Sullivan Award in 1951 as the outstanding amateur athlete in America. Some clouds. 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. Please subscribe to keep reading. 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 built a pit in his backyard, jumping over a crossbar set between a tree limb and phone pole. He became an ordained minister and preached at churches and gatherings all over the world, earning the monikers the Vaulting Vicar and the Pole Vaulting Pastor. Richards became a popular and prolific public speaker who gave more than 25,000 speeches to businesses and organizations worldwide, Brandon said. In his Facebook post, Brandon Richards said his father began reading the Bible and preaching as a way to overcome his stuttering. He also was the oldest living Olympic track and field champion before his death. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Bob Richards, the first person to win two Olympic gold medals for pole vaulting, died at 97 on Sunday. The school said in a release he held the ranking as the No. The Champaign native went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. He also appeared on a box of Wheaties cereal. Bob showed early abilities in basketball and was a pole-vaulter and a star quarterback at Champaign Central High School. His sons followed in his pole-vaulting footsteps. He married the college presidents niece, Mary Leah Cline, in 1946. Caterpillar and the United Auto Workers Union have reached a tentative agreement on a contract, possibly averting a strike. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. 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. He won a bronze medal in his first Olympic go-around, followed by back-to-back gold medals. In his Facebook post, Brandon Richards said his father began reading the Bible and preaching as a way to overcome his stuttering. That marriage ended in divorce. Richards did it for schools in 2 statesas a junior in Texas, then as a senior in California) All in the family: 4 great pairs are represented here, topped by Mondo and his father Greg, who ranked twice, including a No. Im terrible. We wonder why we dont do anything when we dont believe we can. By then, Mr. Richards was hopscotching around the country delivering what would add up to more than 25,000 motivational speeches at sales conferences, awards dinners and corporate retreats. 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. You have permission to edit this article. He had been a pastor in California only briefly, but the dual image of minister and champion athlete was irresistible on the speaking circuit. Robert Eugene Richards was born on Feb. 20, 1926, in Champaign, Illinois, the third of five children of Leslie and Margaret (Palfrey) Richards. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, has died. The next year, he competed with the U.S. Olympic team in London, winning a bronze medal. Illinois pole vaulting legend Bob Richards has passed away. That distinction, as Richards acknowledged, belonged to Cornelius Warmerdam, a Californian who used bamboo poles to set world records of about 15 feet 8 inches in the early 1940s. 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. RICHARDS, Robert Eugene ("Bob") (b. INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The Atlanta Falcons released veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota, the team announced Tuesday. 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. In 1970 he married Vonda Joan Beaird, an actress. There was a time when former Olympic athlete Bob Richards seemed the personification of the all-American man: A two-time gold medal winner in the pole vault, he was the first jock to appear on the front of boxes of Wheaties "the breakfast of champions . Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Former NFL star cornerback Irv Cross, who died in 2021, was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Boston University researchers said Tuesday. Time skulks along slowly between the arrival of each Olympics, an. The two-time Olympic gold medalist was 97. But it also came to be known for the far-right extremist views of one its founders, Willis Carto, a Holocaust denier and neo-Nazi hero. Bob Richards, 97, pole-vaulting star, first champion on a Wheaties box. Richards was interested in athletics from boyhood, participating in diving and tumbling before taking up the pole vault in junior high school. (The first was Cornelius Dutch Warmerdam. Matt Ludwig (unat) 19- | 5.80: 5. Low near 40F. Brandon`s father, Bob Richards, is to the pole vault what Babe Ruth is to the home run: a standard of comparison. In 1957, he played himself in Leap to Heaven on ABCs DuPont Cavalcade Theatre in a dramatization of his life. 1 pick, commit to quarterback Justin Fields. But pole vaulting, which he took up in junior high, was his obsession. Staff report. 1 pole vaulter, Geno Auriemma gives bleak assessment as UConn womens basketball looks to find footing in March: 'Poorly coached team. "I saw it more as a mission than a job," says Richards, who was the General Mills cereal's . Joe Dial ('81) and nephew Bruce Dial ('93) both ranked No. 1967 Winnipeg. Hall Of Fame Member. Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole . 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 three-time olympian and the first athlete to ever be featured on a Wheaties cereal box, has died, his son said on social media. Bob Richards 2.jpg 801 1,000; 128 KB. 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. 2-time Olympic pole vault champion Bob Richards dies at 97, Wizards show plenty of heart early but cant find an edge late in Chicago. 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. Pole vault. Jacob Wooten (unat) . Wrote Brandon Richards of his dad: "We lost a national treasure." To this day, Richards three Olympic medals (two gold, one bronze) are more than any other mens competitor in history. Bob Richards of La Verne . Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. [1955] Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. Keep it Clean. 1 overall pick in the 2023 and are committed to quarterback Justin Fields next season, general manager Ryan Poles told reporters Tuesday in Indianapolis. He became a pastor who went all around to give lectures, leading to a career as a motivational speaking. Eighteen salesmen received awards. When I came down, I went running down the straightaway, and the Russians were running to me, saying, Boo-tiful! He motivated millions of people to achieve their dreams through positive sports stories, Brandon wrote. Bob Richards. Bob Richards. 1 pole vaulter for eight consecutive years. The last UAW strike against Caterpillar was in 1994 and lasted 18 months. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. Richards served as a spokesman for General Mills from 1956 to 70. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. 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. We had the wonderful opportunity to interview Mr. Richards thanks to his son. Some clouds. Atlanta Falcons release QB Marcus Mariota. When he turned 20, Mr. Richards was ordained in the Church of the Brethren. Long before modern athletes began riding fiberglass poles to unimaginable heights, the Rev. Use the 'Report' link on He was the greatest dad I could ever ask for and I will miss him dearly.. Be Truthful. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 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. 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