degree in 1947. 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] He won gold medals in pole vault in both 1952 and 1956, becoming the only . 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. Feb. 20, 1926 - Feb. 26, 2023. She died in 2019. 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. 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. His son Paul confirmed the death. Larry Keller. 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. 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. But he escaped the street life into religion and athletics. Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole . 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. 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. A million guys stronger, faster, he continued. Sportswriters called him the Vaulting Vicar because he was an ordained minister. The next year, he competed with the U.S. Olympic team in London, winning a bronze medal. His daughter Tammy Richards LeSure confirmed the death but did not cite a specific cause. Bob Richards, two time Olympic Gold Medalist in the pole vault, moved to Waco and the vision became a reality. His son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father "passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.". I bawled like a baby., In many ways, the Summer Olympics are the Halleys Comet of sporting events. Be Proactive. Mr. Richardss daughter said her father regretted running on the Populist Party ticket given the extremism that developed in the party.. Richards also competed as a decathlete in the 1956 Olympics. He dove. Your capacity is only discovered, ladies and gentlemen, in challenge. The versatile athlete known as the Vaulting Vicar also competed in the Olympic decathlon in 1956. 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. Ex-Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane calls trade to Rangers 'bittersweet'. From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. His track and field legacy will endure, too. 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 97. Took 1st Place and Gold Medal in Pole Vault at the Olympic Games in Helsinki. 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. or anything. Bob Richards Track and Field. The salesman is on the field! Richards retired from athletics in 1957 and became a spokesman for Wheaties cereal. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Low near 40F. The versatile athlete known as the "Vaulting Vicar" also competed in the Olympic decathlon in 1956. The two-time Olympic gold medalist was 97. They had never tried. Richards also became involved in politics, and he was the Populist Partys presidential candidate in the 1984 election; he received approximately 66,000 votes. After a difficult adolescence and the breakup of his home by divorce, he was reared by a minister in the Church of the Brethren. 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You have permission to edit this article. That marriage ended in divorce. In 2000, Richards was inducted as a Laureate of The Lincoln Academy and awarded the Order of Lincoln (states highest honor) by the state of Illinois. The Populist Party sought to abolish income taxes and the Federal Reserve Bank. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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. We had the wonderful opportunity to interview Mr. Richards thanks to his son. Robert Eugene Richards was born on Feb. 20, 1926, in Champaign, Ill., the third of five children of Leslie and Margaret (Palfrey) Richards. Hospital food is a punchline. Richards became the face and voice of the cereal known as the Breakfast of Champions.. Time skulks along slowly between the arrival of each Olympics, an. 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. Richards was interested in athletics from boyhood, participating in diving and tumbling before . The versatile athlete known as the Vaulting Vicar also competed in the Olympic decathlon in 1956. Bob Richards, the first person to win two Olympic gold medals for pole vaulting, died at 97 on Sunday. 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. Pole vaulter Bob Richards passes away. 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. Originally published on thecentersquare.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange. [1952] Was the Gold Medalist in Pole Vault at the Pan American Games in Mexico City. You have permission to edit this article. In his Facebook post, Brandon Richards said his father began reading the Bible and preaching as a way to overcome his stuttering. His son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.. accounts, the history behind an article. Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. 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. INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The Chicago Bears will continue to field offers for the No. INDIANAPOLIS, March 1 (UPI) -- Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. and several other top pass rushers say they model their games after today's NFL stars. (The first was Cornelius Dutch Warmerdam. 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. Boo-tiful! This big Russian picked me up and gave me a hug, and that photo was seen all over the world.. In the same period he also won eight indoor championships. Jeff's good friend and old training partner, Brandon Richards had an 8th grade son that vaulted at the school that Jeff was coaching at. 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. 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. 1 in '79. 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 added that his father "always motivated us kids the same way to be the best we could be. 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 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. 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. ', '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. 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. Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. 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 . 1 pole vaulter for eight consecutive years. Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. 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. KC Lightfoot (Bay) 19-2 | 5.85: 4. Feb. 27, 2023 Updated 2:44 p.m. And the bigger your challenge, the bigger you become as a person. 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. It was the greatest jump of my life, Richards said. 1 eight times in an . Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Richards competed at the 1948, '52 . 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. News > Nation/World Bob Richards, pole vaulter who landed on Wheaties boxes, dies at 97. She died in 2019. 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. He became a pastor who went all around to give lectures, leading to a career as a motivational speaker. 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. 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. Get breaking news delivered to your inbox as it happens. Joe Dial ('81) and nephew Bruce Dial ('93) both ranked No. He was also a football quarterback in high school. Be Truthful. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). He took gold medals at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, and the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. Bob Richards. Olympic-winning pole vaulter, pastor Bob Richards dies at 97. I was competing with a slippery pole.. 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. Arrest warrant issued for NFL prospect Jalen Carter on reckless driving, racing charges. Keep it Clean. 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 . Growing up, he excelled in sports. In his day, he was considered the greatest pole vaulter in history. He retired to a ranch in Waco, where he owned a golf course. Richards earned a bronze medal at the Olympics in 1948, then won gold in 1952 at Helsinki and in 1956 at Melbourne. Bob Richards, a two-time . PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Threats of harming another 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). 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 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. 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. Jacob Wooten (unat) . I went over the crossbar by a foot. He was the second person ever to pole vault over 15 feet (4.6 metres), a feat he accomplished in 1947. A Facebook post by his son Brandon said that Richards "passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.". London 1948, bronze (pole vault) Helsinki 1952, gold (pole vault) Melbourne 1956, gold (pole vault) . Pole vault. that is degrading to another person. Matt Ludwig (unat) 19- | 5.80: 5. When I came down, I went running down the straightaway, and the Russians were running to me, saying, Boo-tiful! 1 pole vaulter, Geno Auriemma gives bleak assessment as UConn womens basketball looks to find footing in March: 'Poorly coached team. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). In 1970 he married Vonda Joan Beaird, an actress. ET. Caterpillar and the United Auto Workers Union have reached a tentative agreement on a contract, possibly averting a strike. Richards competed at the 1948, 52 and 56 Olympics in the pole vault. Bobbing and weaving, his forehead glistening with perspiration, he is Rocky Marciano on the attack against Archie Moore. The school said in a release he held the ranking as the No. He was the greatest dad I could ever ask for and I will miss him dearly.. The school said in a release he held the ranking as the No. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Mr. Richards is still the only Olympic pole vaulter to win two gold medals, but hes not the familys lone record holder. 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. Last month, union members overwhelmingly authorized union leadership to call a strike if the two sides could not reach an agreement. from Illinois. 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. His sons followed in his pole-vaulting footsteps. Thank you for reading! Bob Richards was born on 20 February 1926 in Champaign, Illinois, USA. There is no feeling in the world that can match it, Richards said in 2016. Be Nice. In between pole vaulting competitions, he taught at LaVerne College, a Brethren-affiliated school in Southern California. 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. 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. 20, 1926 - Feb. 26, 2023 in 1957 and became pastor., gold ( pole vault, moved to Waco and the United Auto Workers union reached! Agreement on a contract, possibly averting a strike if the two sides could not an. A football quarterback in high school wonderful opportunity to interview Mr. Richards thanks to son... Vicar because he was the greatest jump of my life, Richards said his father began the. 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