He was 97. Richards excelled in basketball, where he was an All Mason/Dixon selection in 1945. . 0. 2021 (Eugene, Oregon, June 21) 1. Richards competed at the 1948, '52 . London 1948, bronze (pole vault) Helsinki 1952, gold (pole vault) Melbourne 1956, gold (pole vault) . 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. The Rev. Hospital food is a punchline. 1 min read. Hall Of Fame Member. They remain pole vault gold for all that take the time to listen to his stories. Richards ran for president in 1984. With none of the nine candidates running for Chicago mayor achieving more than 50% of the vote for an outright victory, the election moves to a runoff. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. That marriage ended in divorce. The third of five children, Robert Eugene Richards was born in Champaign, Ill., on Feb. 20, 1926. March 1, 2023 Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole . The school said in a release he held the ranking as the No. Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, has . Bob Richards. Bob Richards. The versatile athlete known as the Vaulting Vicar also competed in the Olympic decathlon in 1956. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. "He always motivated us kids the same way to be the best we could be," Brandon Richards said. He added that his father "always motivated us kids the same way to be the best we could be. In 1970, he married Vonda Joan Beaird. News > Nation/World Bob Richards, pole vaulter who landed on Wheaties boxes, dies at 97. 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. 1 eight times in an . Bob Richards Track and Field. In fact, as a youth Richards, the son of a broken home, had run with a gang of thieves and brawlers, and five of his friends went to prison for robbery. Bob Richards, a two-time . His autobiography, Heart of a Champion, was published in 1959. The salesman is on the field! He was a three-time Olympic medalist and the first person to ever win two gold medals in the pole vault. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. He was a three-time Olympic pole vaulter for the U.S. in 1948, 1952 and 1956, winning Gold in '52 and '56 after winning a Bronze medal in '48. 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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. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. Richards was also a family man, and all four of his sons followed in their fathers footsteps as pole vaulters. 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. 1 pick, commit to quarterback Justin Fields. Bob Richards is a remarkable human being. Joe Dial ('81) and nephew Bruce Dial ('93) both ranked No. 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. He graduated from high school in 1943, and in 1944 he enrolled at the Brethren affiliated Bridgewater College in Virginia. His sons followed in his pole-vaulting footsteps. 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. 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. Richards earned a bronze medal at the Olympics in 1948, then won gold in 1952 at Helsinki and in 1956 at Melbourne. Brandon`s father, Bob Richards, is to the pole vault what Babe Ruth is to the home run: a standard of comparison. He won six National AAU and four NCAA titles indoors and outdoors. Bob Richards 2.jpg 801 1,000; 128 KB. Don't Threaten. He was 97. Class Of 1983, Olympian. 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 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 Richards . Richards was the . There is no feeling in the world that can match it, Richards said in 2016. Originally published on thecentersquare.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange. Pole vault. Brandon Richards said that his father gave over 25,000 motivational speeches to companies and organizations. 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. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 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. Bob Richards waves to the crowd after winning the pole vault gold medal at 1956 Summer Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia, Nov. 26, 1956. Mr. Richardss daughter said her father regretted running on the Populist Party ticket given the extremism that developed in the party.. His daughter Tammy Richards LeSure confirmed the death but did not cite a specific cause. The group, which includes 810 residents, fellows and interns at UB, announced their intent to organize with the Union of American Physicians a. 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. Growing up, he excelled in sports. 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 also won 17 AAU championships in indoor and outdoor vaulting competitions, and United States decathlon championships in 1951, 1954 and 1955. Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. 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 won gold medals in pole vault in both 1952 and 1956, becoming the only male two-time champion in the event in Olympic history. 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. Bob showed early abilities in basketball and was a pole-vaulter and a star quarterback at Champaign Central High School. Bob Richards, two time Olympic Gold Medalist in the pole vault, moved to Waco and the vision became a reality. He motivated millions of people to achieve their dreams through positive sports stories, Brandon wrote. In a matter of minutes he has the Evansville salesmen in his grip. INDIANAPOLIS -- Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. The Buffalo Sabres' mostly injury-free season at forward took a decidedly darker turn Saturday night when the club placed top-line right winge. Bob Richards of the US team eases over the bar to set a new record for the Olympics pole vault. Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. He was 97. Copyright 2023, The Spokesman-Review | Community Guidelines | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The Populist Party sought to abolish income taxes and the Federal Reserve Bank. Richards retired from athletics in 1957 and became a spokesman for Wheaties cereal. INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The Chicago Bears will continue to field offers for the No. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism 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 received the James E. Sullivan award in 1951 for outstanding amateur athlete. that is degrading to another person. Feb. 27, 2023 Updated 2:44 p.m. Bob Richards, the first person to win two Olympic gold medals for pole vaulting, died at 97 on Sunday. 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. The most dominant vaulter of his time, as he was ranked as the worlds No. He was 97. Bob Richards, 97, pole-vaulting star, first champion on a Wheaties box. Bob Richards, byname of Robert Eugene Richards, (born February 20, 1926, Champaign, Illinois, U.S.died February 26, 2023, Waco, Texas), American athlete, the first pole-vaulter to win two Olympic gold medals. A Facebook post by his son Brandon said that Richards "passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones." 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. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. February 28, 2023 at 11:15 a.m. EST. AP Photo/Olympic World Photo, Pool, File Wacos 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. A Facebook post . Bob Richards, byname of Robert Eugene Richards, (born February 20, 1926, Champaign, Illinois, U.S.died February 26, 2023, Waco, Texas), American athlete, the first pole-vaulter to win two Olympic gold medals. 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 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, 2-time Olympic pole vault champion Bob Richards dies at 97. American pole vaulter Bob Richards won the bronze medal at the Summer Olympics in London in 1948. Chris Nilsen (Nik) 19-4 | 5.90: t2. Sportswriters called him "the Vaulting Vicar" because he was an ordained minister. His athletic success was celebrated on the cover of Wheaties cereal boxes for 13 years after he became the first athlete to appear on the front of a Wheaties box in 1958. 1 pole vaulter for eight consecutive years. 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 . Bob Richards of the US team eases over the bar to set a new record for the . March 1, 2023 Updated Wed., March 1, 2023 at 11:18 a.m.. Bob Richards was featured on a Wheaties box in the . Keep reading with unlimited digital access. 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. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. His success in the air, combined with wholesome looks and an upbeat ministerial eloquence, made Mr. Richards a fixture in American households. KC Lightfoot (Bay) 19-2 | 5.85: 4. 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. INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The Cincinnati Bengals don't plan to trade wide receiver Tee Higgins and consider the notion "ridiculous," director of player personnel Duke Tobin said Tuesday in Indianapolis. He won the Helms Foundation Trophy and James E. Sullivan Award in 1951 as the outstanding amateur athlete in America. Please subscribe to keep reading. Richards' exploits in track and field earned him three Olympic medals, a record, and 20 national titles. His son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.. You can cancel at any time. INDIANAPOLIS Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. 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.. He played basketball. March 1 (UPI) -- Veteran winger Patrick Kane says it was "bittersweet" to learn he was traded from the Chicago Blackhawks to the New York Rangers, but the move puts him in a "better spot" for a fourth championship. Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. He also appeared on a box of Wheaties cereal. In 1970, he bicycled 3,300 miles from Los Angeles to New York to promote fitness. In his day, he was considered the greatest pole vaulter in history. He built a pit in his backyard, jumping over a crossbar set between a tree limb and phone pole. He became a pastor who went all around to give lectures, leading to a career as a motivational speaking. Be Nice. They had never gotten on a track. He fared much better in his next two Olympic appearances. Long before modern athletes began . 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. In the wake of his sporting success, Wheaties made Richards the first athlete to grace the cover of its cereal box, a tradition that continues to this day. Ex-Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane calls trade to Rangers 'bittersweet'. Threats of harming another 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. But pole vaulting, which he took up in junior high, was his obsession. Lakers concerned injured LeBron James may miss more than a week. 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 . The Champaign native went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. 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. It sounds cornball, but when you finally realize that dream and you walk up that podium and The Star-Spangled Banner plays, Im telling you, the tears just start flowing. 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