A Facebook post by his son Brandon said that Richards "passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones." His son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father "passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.". Low near 40F. From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. Advertisement. Richards retired from athletics in 1957 and became a spokesman for Wheaties cereal. He also appeared on a Wheaties box. 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 is the only two-time male Olympic gold medal winner in the pole vault, and also won gold medals at the 1951 and 1955 Pan American Games, while earning silver in the decathlon at the 55 Pan American Games. From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. Ex-NFL star Irv Cross, who died in 2021, diagnosed with CTE. 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. 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. Richards also became involved in politics, and he was the Populist Partys presidential candidate in the 1984 election; he received approximately 66,000 votes. Richards became the face and voice of the cereal known as the Breakfast of Champions.. Pole vault. He was 97. Robert Eugene Richards was born on Feb. 20, 1926, in Champaign, Illinois, the third of five children of Leslie and Margaret (Palfrey) Richards. 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. 1967 Winnipeg. Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson appear headed for the April 4 election. The versatile athlete known as the "Vaulting Vicar" also competed in the Olympic decathlon in 1956. The Rev. He was the greatest dad I could ever ask for and I will miss him dearly.. Long before modern athletes began riding fiberglass poles to unimaginable heights, the Rev. Richards excelled in basketball, where he was an All Mason/Dixon selection in 1945. . The next year, he competed with the U.S. Olympic team in London, winning a bronze medal. that is degrading to another person. INDIANAPOLIS -- Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. Boo-tiful! This big Russian picked me up and gave me a hug, and that photo was seen all over the world.. His success in the air, combined with wholesome looks and an upbeat ministerial eloquence, made Mr. Richards a fixture in American households. The family that plays and prays together stays together, Richards intoned on countless occasions. Don't Threaten. Richards was born and raised in Illinois, but moved to the Waco area after his athletic career ended. Robert E. "Bob" Richards came to Bridgewater in 1944 and was a two-sport athlete. He received the James E. Sullivan award in 1951 for outstanding amateur athlete. Matt Ludwig (unat) 19- | 5.80: 5. During his travels, Mr. Richards became frustrated that the American Dream was slipping away for farmers and blue-collar workers struggling to buy homes and hold steady jobs. 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. accounts, the history behind an article. Bob Richards Track and Field. In a matter of minutes he has the Evansville salesmen in his grip. 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. 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. Richards was also a family man, and all four of his sons followed in their fathers footsteps as pole vaulters. Larry Keller. His father was a telephone lineman. 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. Originally published on thecentersquare.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange. 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. 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 also appeared on a box of Wheaties cereal. When I came down, I went running down the straightaway, and the Russians were running to me, saying, Boo-tiful! They remain pole vault gold for all that take the time to listen to his stories. "The theme for the next few days is clear: Hey Kevyn, the lonely eyes of Sabres fans are turned to you,"Mike Harrington writes. Please use the button below to manage your account. Richards won or tied in the pole vault at Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) meets nine times (194857). The Champaign native went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. 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. 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. Growing up, he excelled in sports. 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. Joe Dial ('81) and nephew Bruce Dial ('93) both ranked No. Will Anderson Jr., top pass rush prospects mimic NFL greats, eye top spot. "He was the greatest dad I could ever ask for and I will miss him dearly.". KC Lightfoot (Bay) 19-2 | 5.85: 4. Mr. Richards is still the only Olympic pole vaulter to win two gold medals, but hes not the familys lone record holder. He was 97. Can you imagine going into a boxing ring thinking, Maybe Im not the greatest?. or anything. 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. 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. He retired to a ranch in Waco, where he owned a golf course. Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole . Bob Richards: 15-1 . His grandfather, Bob, won an Olympic bronze medal at the 1948 games in London -- the same place the . The Champaign native went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. And he was perfect on the Wheaties box: a muscular all American with a smile that radiated confidence, health and upright living. Atlanta Falcons release QB Marcus Mariota. 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. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bob-Richards, The Olympic Movement - Biography of Robert Richards. He was 97. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. He was 97. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). [1] He won gold medals in pole vault in both 1952 and 1956, becoming the only . 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Long before modern athletes began . Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, The Champaign native went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. ; a brother; and 31 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 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 . 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. Illinois pole vaulting legend Bob Richards has passed away. Pole vault. 1 pole vaulter for eight consecutive years. Richards . Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, has . Be Nice. 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. 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. 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 always motivated us kids the same way to be the best we could be. Mr. Richards purchased a 300 acre ranch on the Brazos River in Waco, known as the Crossbar Ranch. 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. Your capacity is only discovered, ladies and gentlemen, in challenge. Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Get breaking news delivered to your inbox as it happens. 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. Anonymous - pool, Olympic World Photo We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. 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. 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. Richards was the most successful pole vaulter in U.S. track and field history, in terms of Olympic success. 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. 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. The most dominant vaulter of his time, as he was ranked as the worlds No. Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James will not play Tuesday due to his recent right foot injury, the team announced. With the ministers help, Mr. Richards enrolled at Bridgewater College, a Brethren-affiliated school in Virginia, where he dominated collegiate pole vaulting. 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. Feb 27 (Reuters) - Double Olympic pole vault champion Bob Richards died on Sunday aged 97, his family said on Facebook. With the help of gynecologic oncology specialists at Providence, Amy beat cancerand found the courage to accomplish things shed never dreamed of. USA Track and Field confirmed his death. The UAW made an announcement on its website. Actor: Cavalcade of America. ", 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. His autobiography, Heart of a Champion, was published in 1959. Bob Richards of La Verne . In his Facebook post, Brandon Richards said his father began reading the Bible and preaching as a way to overcome his stuttering. USA Track . 1 pole vaulter for eight consecutive years. USA Track and Field confirmed his death. Arrest warrant issued for NFL prospect Jalen Carter on reckless driving, racing charges. Updates? 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. You have permission to edit this article. Richards was the . I cant do anything. Much has changed since Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vaulting champion, was Mr. Wheaties. He became a pastor who went all around to give lectures, leading to a career as a motivational speaking. He started at quarterback for his high school football team. He won a bronze medal in his first Olympic go-round, followed by back-to-back gold medals. 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. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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. In 1951, he became the second pole vaulter to clear 15 feet. Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole . 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. His father worked as a telephone lineman, and his mother was a homemaker. When he turned 20, Mr. Richards was ordained in the Church of the Brethren. The school said in a release he held the ranking as the No. 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. INDIANAPOLIS, March 1 (UPI) -- The Baltimore Ravens hope to agree to a contract extension with Lamar Jackson before the NFL's March 7 franchise tag deadline, general manager Eric DeCosta told reporters Wednesday at the NFL scouting combine. The only other person to win two Olympic pole vault titles is Yelena Isinbayeva from Russia. INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The Chicago Bears will continue to field offers for the No. 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. Threats of harming another 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 . 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. She died in 2019. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. The Lakers also fear James could miss more than a week while healing. Bob Richards, a two-time . In New York, chefs are redefining it. Lakers concerned injured LeBron James may miss more than a week. Richards competed at the 1948, '52 . His father was a telephone lineman. Use the 'Report' link on From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. 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. 1 pole vaulter for eight consecutive years. Bob Richards of the US team eases over the bar to set a new record for the Olympics pole vault. In his day, he was considered the greatest pole vaulter in history. To this day, Richards three Olympic medals (two gold, one bronze) are more than any other mens competitor in history. He was 97. Richards ran for president in 1984. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. His son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.. 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. 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. The versatile athlete known as the Vaulting Vicar also competed in the Olympic decathlon in 1956. [1955] USA Track and Field confirmed his death. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism A year later, General Mills tapped him as its pitchman on the front of Wheaties cereal boxes and in television commercials. Media in category "Bob Richards" The following 7 files are in this category, out of 7 total. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? He was the second person ever to pole vault over 15 feet (4.6 metres), a feat he accomplished in 1947. T. HE POLE VAULT -- the most technologically advanced, adventure-filled event in track and field -- represents all the innocence, bravado, and magic of childhood. He fared much better in his next two Olympic appearances. He is an actor, . 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. 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. Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, has died The Rev. American pole vaulter Bob Richards won the bronze medal at the Summer Olympics in London in 1948. He was 97. from Illinois. Most of us say, Im the worst. Bob Richards, two time Olympic Gold Medalist in the pole vault, moved to Waco and the vision became a reality. 2021 (Eugene, Oregon, June 21) 1. Upload media . In the United States presidential election, 1984 Richards ran for President of the Uni Bob Richards. A Facebook post . He married the college presidents niece, Mary Leah Cline, in 1946. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. 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. 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. From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. The salesman is on the field! 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. He had become a Brethren minister in 1946 and in 1948 received his M.A. He played basketball. USA Track and Field confirmed his death. Ex-Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane calls trade to Rangers 'bittersweet'. He won a bronze medal in his first Olympic go-around, followed by back-to-back gold medals. Feb. 27, 2023 Updated 2:44 p.m. 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. INDIANAPOLIS (AP)Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. Its the climax of all your dreams. In his Facebook post, Brandon Richards said his father began reading the Bible and preaching as a way to overcome his stuttering. Illinois pole vaulting legend Bob Richards has passed away. Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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.. The two-time Olympic gold medalist was 97. 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. 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. Bob Richards. 1 eight times in an . His son Paul confirmed the death. 1 min read. 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 1957, he played himself in Leap to Heaven on ABCs DuPont Cavalcade Theatre in a dramatization of his life. 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. He won the Helms Foundation Trophy and James E. Sullivan Award in 1951 as the outstanding amateur athlete in America. 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. In 1946, he was ordained and transferred to the University of Illinois. Updated Wed., March 1, 2023 at 11:18 a.m. Ghislaine Maxwell appeals conviction, argues she was unfair proxy for Jeffrey Epstein to satisfy public outrage over financiers jail suicide, Georgia prisons see unprecedented number of suicides , Greece in mourning after dozens die in head-on train collision , Police: UGA football staffer drunk, traveling 104 mph before fatal crash , Brothers who crashed a wedding reception are convicted of beating the groom to death , Stephanie Vigil, longtime KHQ-TV news anchor, announces June departure to travel and start pickleball clothier, Spokane rape kit leads to cold case arrest in 1979 Lake Tahoe killing, Judge allows post-conviction DNA testing in Starbuck case, Key matchup: Former four-star prospect Wesley Cardet Jr. brings versatility to small-ball Chicago State lineup. Richards also competed as a decathlete . Richards competed at the 1948, 1952 and 1956 Olympics in the pole vault, and eventually appeared on a box of Wheaties cereal. Robert Eugene Richards was born on Feb. 20, 1926, in Champaign, Ill., the third of five children of Leslie and Margaret (Palfrey) Richards. Richards competed at the 1948, 1952 and 1956 Olympics in the pole vault, and eventually appeared on a box of . Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. Eighteen salesmen received awards. 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. 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.
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