Sam Kendricks (Nik) 19-2 | 5.85: 2t. 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. His son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.. 'Bo was a legend', 5 CT companies hiring for 100 or more positions, Elizabeth's Cafe in Madison to be razed for new restaurant, housing, The Best Window Replacement Companies in CT, Guide to Legal Cannabis Dispensaries in CT, The Best Kitchen Remodeling Companies in CT, The Best Bathroom Remodeling Companies in CT, Video of fatal police shooting of CT man will not be released yet, Cannabis activists want more CT criminal cases dropped, expunged, CT DOT faces criticism following overnight tree-cutting, Haar: $1M in payouts approved, and CT still has a garbage crisis. Chris Nilsen (Nik) 19-4 | 5.90: t2. KC Lightfoot (Bay) 19-2 | 5.85: 4. July 15, 2010. And he was perfect on the Wheaties box: a muscular all American with a smile that radiated confidence, health and upright living. USA Track and Field confirmed his death. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Omissions? Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, has died The Rev. Bob showed early abilities in basketball and was a pole-vaulter and a star quarterback at Champaign Central High School. 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. She died in 2019. Copyright 2023, The Spokesman-Review | Community Guidelines | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy. 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, 97, pole-vaulting star, first champion on a Wheaties box. Illinois pole vaulting legend Bob Richards has passed away. Please subscribe to keep reading. A year later, General Mills tapped him as its pitchman on the front of Wheaties cereal boxes and in television commercials. Feb. 27, 2023 Updated 2:44 p.m. AP Photo/Olympic World Photo, Pool, File 2021 (Eugene, Oregon, June 21) 1. Upload media . The school said in a release he held the ranking as the No. Feb. 20, 1926 - Feb. 26, 2023. In his Facebook post, Brandon Richards said his father began reading the Bible and preaching as a way to overcome his stuttering. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). He was also a successful businessman who formerly owned Bear Ridge Golf Course and Lake Waco Golf Club. He took gold medals at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, and the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. 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. 1 eight times in an . Richards was the . Bob Richards: 15-1 . Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. But it also came to be known for the far-right extremist views of one its founders, Willis Carto, a Holocaust denier and neo-Nazi hero. 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. Updates? 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. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Robert Eugene Richards was born on Feb. 20, 1926, in Champaign, Ill., the third of five children of Leslie and Margaret (Palfrey) Richards. Sportswriters called him the Vaulting Vicar because he was an ordained minister. The most dominant vaulter of his time, as he was ranked as the worlds No. Richards also competed as a decathlete . Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole . A million guys stronger, faster, he continued. 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. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. Threats of harming another 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. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. He was 97. Robert Eugene Richards is an American retired athlete, minister, and politician. His autobiography, Heart of a Champion, was published in 1959. 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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. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Matt Ludwig (unat) 19- | 5.80: 5. Pole vault. He was 97. 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. 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. His eyes shut tightly, his hands knifing through the air, he carries the salesmen to successive peaks of grim determination, Sports Illustrated noted. The two-time Olympic gold medalist watched as his . AP Photo/Olympic World Photo, Pool, File. He also was the oldest living Olympic track and field champion before his death. He also appeared on a box of Wheaties cereal. The family that plays and prays together stays together, Richards intoned on countless occasions. INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The Chicago Bears will continue to field offers for the No. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. 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. His father worked as a telephone lineman, and his mother was a homemaker. 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. Richards competed at the 1948, '52 and '56 Olympics in the pole vault. He also appeared on a Wheaties box. His autobiography, Heart of a Champion, was published in 1959. Share with Us. 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. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. He earned a bachelors degree in 1947 and a masters in 1948. Be Nice. 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. 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Jacob Wooten (unat) . Bob Richards, a two-time . Richards competed at the 1948, 52 and 56 Olympics in the pole vault. He competed in the 1948 1952 and 1956 Summer Olympics as a pole vaulter and as a decathlete in 1956. 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. 1 pole vaulter, Geno Auriemma gives bleak assessment as UConn womens basketball looks to find footing in March: 'Poorly coached team. Time skulks along slowly between the arrival of each Olympics, an. Bob Richards of the US team eases over the bar to set a new record for the . 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. "He was the greatest dad I could ever ask for and I will miss him dearly.". 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. 1. Robert Eugene Richards was born on Feb. 20, 1926, in Champaign, Illinois, the third of five children of Leslie and Margaret (Palfrey) Richards. In the same period he also won eight indoor championships. . 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. From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. Corrections? Packers await Rodgers' decision on future, cite potential contract restructuring. "The theme for the next few days is clear: Hey Kevyn, the lonely eyes of Sabres fans are turned to you,"Mike Harrington writes. Bob Richards waves to the crowd after winning the pole vault gold medal at 1956 Summer Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia, Nov. 26, 1956. 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. He also won decathlon championships in the 1951 and 195455 AAU meets. Richards also became involved in politics, and he was the Populist Partys presidential candidate in the 1984 election; he received approximately 66,000 votes. 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 . Bob Richards 2.jpg 801 1,000; 128 KB. The only other person to win two Olympic pole vault titles is Yelena Isinbayeva from Russia. In his day, he was considered the greatest pole vaulter in history. ; three children from his second marriage, Brandon Richards and Thomas Richards, both of China Spring, Tex., and Tammy Richards LeSure of Mansfield, Tex. He became a pastor who went all around to give lectures, leading to a career as a motivational speaking. 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 daughter Tammy Richards LeSure confirmed the death but did not cite a specific cause. 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. The school said in a release he held the ranking as the No. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. [1] He won gold medals in pole vault in both 1952 and 1956, becoming the only . Low near 40F. ; a brother; and 31 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. that is degrading to another person. Richards ran for president in 1984. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. Illinois pole vaulting legend Bob Richards has passed away. He became a pastor who went all around to give lectures, leading to a career as a motivational speaker. Richards was born and raised in Illinois, but moved to the Waco area after his athletic career ended. The two-time Olympic gold medalist was 97. Bob Richards. February 28, 2023 at 11:15 a.m. EST. [1952] Was the Gold Medalist in Pole Vault at the Pan American Games in Mexico City. USA Track and Field confirmed his death. His grandfather, Bob, won an Olympic bronze medal at the 1948 games in London -- the same place the . Story Links. From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. 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. 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