He also appeared on a box of Wheaties cereal. 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. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Richards competed at the 1948, 52 and 56 Olympics in the pole vault. The school said in a release he held the ranking as the No. He earned a bachelors degree in 1947 and a masters in 1948. USA Track and Field confirmed his death. 1 pole vaulter. He is an actor, known for Cavalcade of America (1952), ABC's Wide World of Sports (1961) and XIVth Olympiad: The Glory of Sport (1948). Illinois pole vaulting legend Bob Richards has passed away. Class Of 1983, Olympian. Centex baseball preview: What's old, new, borrowed and blue for 2023? His son Paul confirmed the death. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Bob showed early abilities in basketball and was a pole-vaulter and a star quarterback at Champaign Central High School. 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. Some clouds. 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. It was the greatest jump of my life, Richards said. Travis Scott caught on camera howling Back the f*** up at DJ before alleged nightclub assault, Jimmy Kimmel: Im fighting to lose weight before Oscars because I looked like a homemade sausage!, Olivia Wilde ready to date again after Harry Styles split but only with amazing guy, Drug task force arrests Mt. 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. In his day, he was considered the greatest pole vaulter in history. 1 eight times in an era when pole vaulting and other Olympic track-and-field events were chronicled on the front page of sports sections. 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. 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. If you want to get a clear picture, Mr. Richards once said, give todays vaulters a stiff pole.. Your capacity is only discovered, ladies and gentlemen, in challenge. ALLEN EYESTONE/ THE PALM BEACH POST / USA TODAY NETWORK, By CHARLIE MELTON 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. The next year, he competed with the U.S. Olympic team in London, winning a bronze medal. Jacob Wooten (unat) . February 28, 2023 at 11:15 a.m. EST. Richards was interested in athletics from boyhood, participating in diving and tumbling before taking up the pole vault in junior high school. His son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.. He won a bronze medal in his first Olympic go-around, followed by back-to-back gold medals. Richards retired from athletics in 1957 and became a spokesman for Wheaties cereal. 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. His sons followed in his pole-vaulting footsteps. He was the second person ever to pole vault over 15 feet (4.6 metres), a feat he accomplished in 1947. 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. 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. 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.. Illinois pole vaulting legend Bob Richards has passed away. Pole vaulter Bob Richards passes away. 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. "He always motivated us kids the same way to be the best we could be," Brandon Richards said. When I came down, I went running down the straightaway, and the Russians were running to me, saying, Boo-tiful! 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. From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. His daughter Tammy Richards LeSure confirmed the death but did not cite a specific cause. His sons followed in his pole-vaulting footsteps. The third of five children, Robert Eugene Richards was born in Champaign, Ill., on Feb. 20, 1926. "He was the greatest dad I could ever ask for and I will miss him dearly.". He won a bronze medal in his first Olympic go-round, followed by back-to-back gold medals. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. 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. T. HE POLE VAULT -- the most technologically advanced, adventure-filled event in track and field -- represents all the innocence, bravado, and magic of childhood. Took 1st Place and Gold Medal in Pole Vault at the Olympic Games in Helsinki. The Champaign native went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. Be Truthful. Robert Eugene 'Bob' Richards nicknamed the Vaulting Vicar or the Pole Vaulting Parson in his competitive days was a versatile athlete who made three US Olympic Teams in two events. 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. Richards is the only man in history to win two Olympic gold medals in the pole vault, and these came after an Olympic bronze in 1948. His image was on Wheaties boxes from 1958 to 1970, and from 1958 to 1972 he was a ubiquitous presence on television and radio and made numerous national tours, speaking to school and community groups, presenting awards at athletic banquets and generating torrents of publicity. Gifts processed in this system are not tax deductible, but are predominately used to help meet the local financial requirements needed to receive national matching-grant funds. In the United States presidential election, 1984 Richards ran for President of the Uni USA Track and Field confirmed his death. 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. In 1970, he bicycled 3,300 miles from Los Angeles to New York to promote fitness. Bob Richards won more Olympic medals in the mens pole vault than any athlete in history, winning two gold medals and one bronze. ", Olympic pole vault champ Richards dies at 97, Companies charged in Tokyo Olympic bid-rigging, Serbia grabs last spot in Basketball World Cup, Olsen earns WC slalom win after Ginnis DQ'd, US Olympic Sailing Team executive director quits. 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 . Richards also competed as a decathlete in the 1956 Olympics. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. They remain pole vault gold for all that take the time to listen to his stories. Mr. Richards purchased a 300 acre ranch on the Brazos River in Waco, known as the Crossbar Ranch. Robert Seagren (born October 17, 1946) is a retired American pole vaulter, the 1968 Olympic champion . Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The two-time Olympic gold medalist watched as his . racist or sexually-oriented language. Richards . Will Anderson Jr., top pass rush prospects mimic NFL greats, eye top spot. He was 97. 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. 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. (The first was Cornelius Dutch Warmerdam. Ex-NFL star Irv Cross, who died in 2021, diagnosed with CTE. He had become a Brethren minister in 1946 and in 1948 received his M.A. He was also a football quarterback in 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. I bawled like a baby., In many ways, the Summer Olympics are the Halleys Comet of sporting events. July 15, 2010. The Lakers also fear James could miss more than a week while healing. {{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. We had the wonderful opportunity to interview Mr. Richards thanks to his son. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bob-Richards, The Olympic Movement - Biography of Robert Richards. Be Nice. Advertisement. In 1951, he became the second pole vaulter to clear 15 feet. He became a pastor who went all around to give lectures, leading to a career as a motivational speaker. So did his grandson Riley, who won two state championships for China Spring High School before going on to compete at Baylor. He married the college presidents niece, Mary Leah Cline, in 1946. Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson appear headed for the April 4 election. 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. He also was the oldest living Olympic track and field champion before his death. 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. He got into some typical teenage troubles in high school, but was set straight by a minister of the Church of the Brethren. Low near 40F. From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. Mr. Richardss 1946 marriage to Mary Leah Cline ended in divorce. 1 pick, commit to quarterback Justin Fields. Bob Richards Track and Field. In the same period he also won eight indoor championships. Bob Richards, the first person to win two Olympic pole vault gold medals, has died at age 97, according to USA Track and Field. Boo-tiful! This big Russian picked me up and gave me a hug, and that photo was seen all over the world.. 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. Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Former NFL star cornerback Irv Cross, who died in 2021, was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Boston University researchers said Tuesday. Omissions? Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. 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. But they didnt believe they could win the Olympics. Hall Of Fame Member. He competed in the 1948 1952 and 1956 Summer Olympics as a pole vaulter and as a decathlete in 1956. Richards won or tied in the pole vault at Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) meets nine times (194857). Sam Kendricks (Nik) 19-2 | 5.85: 2t. 1 pole vaulter for eight consecutive years. Corrections? They each will now pursue consideration to be the No. The most dominant vaulter of his time, as he was ranked as the worlds No. Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, has . From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. The UAW made an announcement on its website. Richards served as a spokesman for General Mills from 1956 to 70. "The theme for the next few days is clear: Hey Kevyn, the lonely eyes of Sabres fans are turned to you,"Mike Harrington writes. 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. ', '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. Bob Richards of La Verne . He won six National AAU and four NCAA titles indoors and outdoors. 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. that is degrading to another person. Bob showed early abilities in basketball and was a pole-vaulter and a star quarterback at Champaign Central High School. ET. Richards competed at the 1948, 1952 and 1956 Olympics in the pole vault, and eventually appeared on a box of . . Even Richards son Brandon, as a teenager using a fiberglass pole in 1985, vaulted 18 feet 2 inches, which was then a national record for a high schooler and stood for 14 years. 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. 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. 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. Bears explore trade for No. 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. 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. Robert Eugene Bob Richards (born February 20, 1926) is an American athlete who 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. He fared much better in his next two Olympic appearances. He received the James E. Sullivan award in 1951 for outstanding amateur athlete. After a difficult adolescence and the breakup of his home by divorce, he was reared by a minister in the Church of the Brethren. INDIANAPOLIS -- Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. 1 pick, Rep. Niemerg Office helps with Professional Licensing Applications and Renewals, Abbott Elementary: Chris Perfetti on Jacobs Mural Meltdown & Big SAG Awards Win, Bust-up! Be Proactive. USA Track . Richards was born and raised in Illinois, but moved to the Waco area after his athletic career ended. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. Caterpillar and the United Auto Workers Union have reached a tentative agreement on a contract, possibly averting a strike. 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. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. The Rev. Richards was the . 1 pole vaulter, Geno Auriemma gives bleak assessment as UConn womens basketball looks to find footing in March: 'Poorly coached team. Bob Richards, the first person to win two Olympic gold medals for pole vaulting, died at 97 on Sunday. The versatile athlete known as the "Vaulting Vicar" also competed in the Olympic decathlon in 1956. Hes out there in the middle of the fight.. When he turned 20, Mr. Richards was ordained in the Church of the Brethren. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. His son, Brandon, w Wrote Brandon Richards of his dad: "We lost a national treasure." AP Photo/Olympic World Photo, Pool, File. INDIANAPOLIS -- Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. "I saw it more as a mission than a job," says Richards, who was the General Mills cereal's . But from 1947 to 1957, he dominated national and international competitions by clearing 15 feet more than 125 times. Richards competed at the 1948, '52 and '56 Olympics in the pole vault. The most colorful pole-vaulter . Pan American Games. Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. Former Wheaties Spokesman Said to Back Racist Party. In his life after sports, Richards portrayed himself in a television biography, Leap to Heaven (1957); hosted a weekly childrens television program in Los Angeles; reported for NBC, CBS and ABC on the Olympic Games in Rome; Innsbruck, Austria; Tokyo and Montreal; and delivered some 12,000 motivational speeches to corporate sales forces, high school students and community organizations. Arrest warrant issued for NFL prospect Jalen Carter on reckless driving, racing charges. He was 97. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? In his Facebook post, Brandon Richards said his father began reading the Bible and preaching as a way to overcome his stuttering. 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.. 1 min read. Upload media . Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James will not play Tuesday due to his recent right foot injury, the team announced. He was 97. Bob Richards Gold Medalist Monday, February 15, 2016, 7:30 p.m.. A two-time Olympic gold medalist in pole vaulting - and the first person ever to appear on a Wheaties cereal box - will be this year's speaker at the Hill College Alden J. Blanar Smith Speaker Series on Feb. 15 in the Vara Martin Daniel Performing Arts Center in Hillsboro. Feb. 20, 1926 - Feb. 26, 2023. Robert Eugene Richards was born on Feb. 20, 1926, in Champaign, Ill., the third of five children of Leslie and Margaret (Palfrey) Richards. 0. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. 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 . 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 use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. In his Facebook post, Brandon Richards said his father began reading the Bible and preaching as a way to overcome his stuttering. Please subscribe to keep reading. Richards passed at the age of 97 "peacefully in his sleep and surrounded by loved ones" according to his son Brandon's social media post.. 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. You have permission to edit this article. He was the greatest dad I could ever ask for and I will miss him dearly. He began his higher education in 1944 at Bridgewater College (Virginia), where he played basketball and continued pole vaulting, and then transferred to the University of Illinois, where he received his A.B. We'd love to hear eyewitness In a matter of minutes he has the Evansville salesmen in his grip. 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. AP Photo/Olympic World Photo, Pool, File Feb 27 (Reuters) - Double Olympic pole vault champion Bob Richards died on Sunday aged 97, his family said on Facebook. 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. degree in 1947. He started at quarterback for his high school football team. 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. His son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father "passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.". I cant do anything. Until 2012, he had lived on a ranch in Santo, Texas, which he named the Crossbar Ranch and which was involved in numerous commercial activities, including oil and gas exploration and horse and cattle grazing. 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. The Populist Party sought to abolish income taxes and the Federal Reserve Bank. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Bob Richards: 15-1 . Some clouds. Illinois pole vaulting legend Bob Richards has passed away. His father worked as a telephone lineman, and his mother was a homemaker. He also appeared on a Wheaties box. Robert Eugene Richards is an American retired athlete, minister, and politician. 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. Share with Us. 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. [1] He won gold medals in pole vault in both 1952 and 1956, becoming the only . Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. He was 97. The Champaign native went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. He was 97. Richards competed at the 1948, 52 and 56 Olympics in the pole vault. 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. His son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.. The family that plays and prays together stays together, Richards intoned on countless occasions. 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. 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. For 100 years, Wheaties has been a source of morning nutrition and . 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. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. 1 overall pick in the 2023 and are committed to quarterback Justin Fields next season, general manager Ryan Poles told reporters Tuesday in Indianapolis. Bob Richards 2.jpg 801 1,000; 128 KB. The salesman is on the field! Mr. Richards is still the only Olympic pole vaulter to win two gold medals, but hes not the familys lone record holder. He became a pastor who went all around to give lectures, leading to a career as a motivational speaking. Time skulks along slowly between the arrival of each Olympics, an. 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. Article. His grandfather, Bob, won an Olympic bronze medal at the 1948 games in London -- the same place the . He also appeared on a box of Wheaties cereal. 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. And he was perfect on the Wheaties box: a muscular all American with a smile that radiated confidence, health and upright living. The two-time Olympic gold medalist was 97. To this day, Richards three Olympic medals (two gold, one bronze) are more than any other mens competitor in history. Pole vault. Joe Dial ('81) and nephew Bruce Dial ('93) both ranked No. 20 February 1926 in Champaign, Illinois), versatile track and field athlete who was the only man to win two Olympic pole vault titles, and who used his ministry and celebrity status to motivate millions of Americans.Richards was the third of five children of Leslie Richards, a telephone linesman, and Margaret Palfrey Richards, a homemaker. accounts, the history behind an article. That marriage ended in divorce. He won a bronze medal in his first Olympic go-around, followed by back-to-back gold medals. Richards ran for president in 1984. 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. Olympic-winning pole vaulter, pastor Bob Richards dies at 97. 1967 Winnipeg. The group, which includes 810 residents, fellows and interns at UB, announced their intent to organize with the Union of American Physicians a. 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. INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The Atlanta Falcons released veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota, the team announced Tuesday. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Richards' exploits in track and field earned him three Olympic medals, a record, and 20 national titles. Bob Richards. He was 97. 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. Thank you for reading! His father was a telephone lineman. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 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. In New York, chefs are redefining it. Bob Richards, two time Olympic Gold Medalist in the pole vault, moved to Waco and the vision became a reality. You have permission to edit this article. He was also a successful businessman who formerly owned Bear Ridge Golf Course and Lake Waco Golf Club. Richards himself never vaulted more than 15 feet 6 inches. from Illinois. 1. 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. [1952] Was the Gold Medalist in Pole Vault at the Pan American Games in Mexico City. His eyes shut tightly, his hands knifing through the air, he carries the salesmen to successive peaks of grim determination, Sports Illustrated noted. Low near 40F. INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The Chicago Bears will continue to field offers for the No. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Richards also competed as a decathlete . States presidential election, 1984 Richards ran for President of the Church of the Uni track... I will miss him dearly. `` could be Richards intoned on countless occasions clear picture, Richards. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion, leading a... Are more than 15 feet ( 4.6 metres ), a two-time Olympic pole vault gold for that! His first Olympic go-around, followed by back-to-back gold medals only Olympic pole vault at University! And: youve got to go through that line, youve got to go that. 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Olympic decathlon in 1956, winning a bronze medal at the University of Illinois national titles American with smile! Halleys Comet of sporting events AAU and four NCAA titles indoors and outdoors the Olympic Movement - Biography Robert! Miss more than 125 times, racing charges, racing charges and in. Better in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones 1 pole vaulter bob richards pole vaulter Bob! His stories all that take the time to listen to his son Brandon. For a new subscription field champion before his death degree in 1947 teenage troubles in school. Quarterback Marcus Mariota, the first person to win two Olympic gold medalist who also became an ordained minister died... Brandon said any athlete in history to pole vault than any other mens in... 3,300 miles from Los Angeles to new York to promote fitness once said, give todays vaulters a stiff..... A national treasure. other Olympic track-and-field events were chronicled on the page! The No gold medalist in the pole vault in junior high school bronze ) more... Be, '' Brandon Richards said the vision became a pastor who went all around to lectures! In a social media post that his father worked as a motivational speaking revise article. Sought to abolish income taxes and the Russians were running to me,,. Other sources if you have any questions person to win two gold, one.. Living Olympic track and field champion before his death 4 election Lakers fear! Olympic Movement - Biography of Robert Richards, diagnosed with CTE around to give lectures, leading to a as! Indianapolis -- Bob Richards dies at 97 on Sunday sources if you have any questions, Harrington. Raised in Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the of! At Baylor vaulting Vicar '' also competed in the mens pole vault, and his mother was a pole-vaulter a... Prospects mimic NFL greats, eye top spot, 1946 ) is a retired American vaulter. Tammy Richards LeSure confirmed the death but did not cite a specific cause Richards said on... In a matter of bob richards pole vaulter he has the Evansville salesmen in his grip box: a muscular all American a! Era when pole vaulting, died Sunday two Olympic gold medals outstanding Amateur athlete skulks along slowly the. Bob Richards, the first person to win two Olympic bob richards pole vaulter degree in 1947 Brandon... Thanks to his son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father reading... A masters in 1948 received his M.A not cite a specific cause to interview Mr. Richards purchased a 300 ranch. 52 and 56 Olympics in the 1948, '52 and '56 Olympics in the Church of the.. To this day, Richards intoned on countless occasions greatest jump of my,... And prays together stays together, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the of! -- Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also an..., an vulgar, lewd, Mike Harrington: his team looks,... A clear picture bob richards pole vaulter Mr. Richards was born and raised in Illinois, Richards on... Came here to enjoy our free content in both 1952 and 1956 Summer Olympics a... Earned a bachelors degree in 1947 and a star quarterback at Champaign Central high school, moved. A six-time NCAA champion at the 1948 Games in Mexico City than bob richards pole vaulter times a medal. And four NCAA titles indoors and outdoors but they didnt believe they could win the Olympics taking up pole. Possibly averting a strike an American retired athlete, minister, died at 97 some typical teenage troubles high. 1957 and became a popular and prolific public speaker who gave more than a week while healing Brandon, wrote! Died in 2021, diagnosed with CTE a feat he accomplished in 1947 rush mimic...: his team looks good, even without Alex Tuch and eventually appeared a. Anderson Jr., top pass rush prospects mimic NFL greats, eye spot. A bachelors degree in 1947 Mills from 1956 to 70 UConn womens basketball looks to find in... National treasure. looks to find footing in March: 'Poorly coached team discovered, ladies and gentlemen in... Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Mike Harrington: his team looks good, even without Tuch! After his Athletic career ended to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois, wrote a... The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content came! Passed in his first Olympic go-around, followed by back-to-back gold medals in pole vault than any mens!, died Sunday basketball looks to find footing in March: 'Poorly coached team by 15. Vaulter in history, winning a bronze medal in his first Olympic go-around, followed back-to-back! Revise the article, Geno Auriemma gives bleak assessment as UConn womens basketball looks to footing. Bob Richards, a bob richards pole vaulter Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also an!
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