In 1970, he married Vonda Joan Beaird. He was the second person ever to pole vault over 15 feet (4.6 metres), a feat he accomplished in 1947. 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. One recent night, Sports Illustrated wrote in 1968, Mr. Richards is sitting on the dais in the banquet hall of Vanderburgh Auditorium in Evansville, Indiana. He married the college presidents niece, Mary Leah Cline, in 1946. 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', '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. Richards retired from athletics in 1957 and became a spokesman for Wheaties cereal. The versatile athlete known as the Vaulting Vicar also competed in the Olympic decathlon in 1956. He was 97. Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole . Richards was the most successful pole vaulter in U.S. track and field history, in terms of Olympic success. 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. His son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.. The Champaign native went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. The school said in a release he held the ranking as the No. Richards also became involved in politics, and he was the Populist Partys presidential candidate in the 1984 election; he received approximately 66,000 votes. article ul li { list-style: disc; padding: 5px 0; } Share with Us. Anonymous - pool, Olympic World Photo He took gold medals at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, and the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. Growing up, he excelled in sports. "I saw it more as a mission than a job," says Richards, who was the General Mills cereal's . 1 pole vaulter for eight consecutive years. 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. In 1951, he became the second pole vaulter to clear 15 feet. I bawled like a baby., In many ways, the Summer Olympics are the Halleys Comet of sporting events. He was the greatest dad I could ever ask for and I will miss him dearly. A year later, General Mills tapped him as its pitchman on the front of Wheaties cereal boxes and in television commercials. Known alternatively as the Vaulting Vicar and the Pole Vaulting Pastor, Mr. Richards was one of the most dominating athletes of his time, leaping as high as 15 feet 6 inches with a stiff metal pole in the days before flexible fiberglass helped Olympic vaulters cross over bars nearly 20 feet in height. He received the James E. Sullivan award in 1951 for outstanding amateur athlete. ; three children from his second marriage, Brandon Richards and Thomas Richards, both of China Spring, Tex., and Tammy Richards LeSure of Mansfield, Tex. Low near 40F. 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.. He won a bronze medal in his first Olympic go-around, followed by back-to-back gold medals. And the bigger your challenge, the bigger you become as a person. 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. Bob Richards is a remarkable human being. 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 . 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 passed at the age of 97 "peacefully in his sleep and surrounded by loved ones" according to his son Brandon's social media post.. Bob Richards: 15-1 . 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. 1. 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. '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. INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The Chicago Bears will continue to field offers for the No. AP Photo/Olympic World Photo, Pool, File. 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. Although he mentioned religion, telling the salesmen that faith in God will translate into enthusiasm for life, the heart of Mr. Richardss motivational routine was telling stories of athletes who tried harder and trained longer to overcome insurmountable challenges, ultimately winning because they set seemingly impossible goals that they believed they could achieve. There is no feeling in the world that can match it, Richards said in 2016. A Facebook post . Warmerdam, known as Dutch, might have been an odds-on Olympic favorite, but he never got to compete because the quadrennial Games were suspended in 1940 and 1944 for World War II, when he was serving as a Navy officer. Bob Richards, the first person to win two Olympic gold medals for pole vaulting, died at 97 on Sunday. 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. The two-time Olympic gold medalist was 97. 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. Bob showed early abilities in basketball and was a pole-vaulter and a star quarterback at Champaign Central High School. After a difficult adolescence and the breakup of his home by divorce, he was reared by a minister in the Church of the Brethren. Illinois pole vaulting legend Bob Richards has passed away. Richards competed at the 1948, 52 and 56 Olympics in the pole vault. And he was perfect on the Wheaties box: a muscular all American with a smile that radiated confidence, health and upright living. 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. Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Former NFL star cornerback Irv Cross, who died in 2021, was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Boston University researchers said Tuesday. American athletics competitor, pole vaulter. Brandon`s father, Bob Richards, is to the pole vault what Babe Ruth is to the home run: a standard of comparison. In his Facebook post, Brandon Richards said his father began reading the Bible and preaching as a way to overcome his stuttering. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Pan American Games. INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The Green Bay Packers want to know Aaron Rodgers' 2023 playing plans within the next three weeks, but have not set a date to meet with the quarterback, general manager Brian Gutekunst said Tuesday in Indianapolis. From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. In 1970 he married Vonda Joan Beaird, an actress. His father was a telephone lineman. Don't knowingly lie about anyone Mr. Richardss daughter said her father regretted running on the Populist Party ticket given the extremism that developed in the party.. From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. A Facebook post by his son Brandon said that Richards "passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.". Bob Richards of the US team eases over the bar to set a new record for the Olympics pole vault. 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. 1 pole vaulter for eight consecutive years. He always motivated us kids the same way to be the best we could be. Centex baseball preview: What's old, new, borrowed and blue for 2023? If you want to get a clear picture, Mr. Richards once said, give todays vaulters a stiff pole.. They remain pole vault gold for all that take the time to listen to his stories. Updates? 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. ", 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. But they didnt believe they could win the Olympics. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. Will Anderson Jr., top pass rush prospects mimic NFL greats, eye top spot. 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. 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 . Bengals slam door on 'ridiculous' Tee Higgins trade rumors. He also won decathlon championships in the 1951 and 195455 AAU meets. Hall Of Fame Member. Richards excelled in basketball, where he was an All Mason/Dixon selection in 1945. . Packers await Rodgers' decision on future, cite potential contract restructuring. 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. Bob Richards was born on 20 February 1926 in Champaign, Illinois, USA. USA Track and Field confirmed his death. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). He became a pastor who went all around to give lectures, leading to a career as a motivational speaker. Ex-Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane calls trade to Rangers 'bittersweet'. The third of five children, Robert Eugene Richards was born in Champaign, Ill., on Feb. 20, 1926. The versatile athlete known as the "Vaulting Vicar" also competed in the Olympic decathlon in 1956. He started at quarterback for his high school football team. He won a bronze medal in his first Olympic go-around, followed by back-to-back gold medals. His son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.. He became a pastor who went all around to give lectures, leading to a career as a motivational speaking. After finishing last season strong, CJ Abrams is ready for more, son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father, release he held the ranking as the No. His grandfather, Bob, won an Olympic bronze medal at the 1948 games in London -- the same place the . In the same period he also won eight indoor championships. Chris Nilsen (Nik) 19-4 | 5.90: t2. 2023 University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics. The family that plays and prays together stays together, Richards intoned on countless occasions. With the ministers help, Mr. Richards enrolled at Bridgewater College, a Brethren-affiliated school in Virginia, where he dominated collegiate pole vaulting. They had never gotten on a track. Robert Eugene Richards was born on Feb. 20, 1926, in Champaign, Ill., the third of five children of Leslie and Margaret (Palfrey) Richards. 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. His son, Brandon, w His father was a telephone lineman. Boo-tiful! This big Russian picked me up and gave me a hug, and that photo was seen all over the world.. To this day, Richards three Olympic medals (two gold, one bronze) are more than any other mens competitor in history. Be Truthful. 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! Bob Richards, a two-time . Most of us say, Im the worst. Staff report. He also appeared on a Wheaties box. He also appeared on a box of Wheaties cereal. 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. Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James will not play Tuesday due to his recent right foot injury, the team announced. Richards competed at the 1948, 1952 and 1956 Olympics in the pole vault, and eventually appeared on a box of Wheaties cereal. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. He also was the oldest living Olympic track and field champion before his death. ET. In his Facebook post, Brandon Richards said his father began reading the Bible and preaching as a way to overcome his stuttering. 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. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. INDIANAPOLIS (AP)Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. KC Lightfoot (Bay) 19-2 | 5.85: 4. She died in 2019. Upload media . Bob Richards. Hes out there in the middle of the fight.. 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 ran for president in 1984. Robert Eugene Richards (February 20, 1926 - February 26, 2023) was an American athlete, minister, and politician. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? History of US Nationals Results: Pole Vault - Men. 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. Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. Richards competed at the 1948, 1952 and 1956 Olympics in the pole vault, and eventually appeared on a box of . 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. Following a college career as a standout at the University of Illinois, he made his Olympic debut in 1948 in London and nabbed a bronze medal in a rainy competition. His daughter Tammy Richards LeSure confirmed the death but did not cite a specific cause. 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 was 97. The only other person to win two Olympic pole vault titles is Yelena Isinbayeva from Russia. In his Facebook post, Brandon Richards said his father began reading the Bible and preaching as a way to overcome his stuttering. From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. 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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Keep it Clean. Sportswriters called him the Vaulting Vicar because he was an ordained minister. Pole vault. His sons followed in his pole-vaulting footsteps. The salesman is on the field! 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. For 100 years, Wheaties has been a source of morning nutrition and . Im terrible. We wonder why we dont do anything when we dont believe we can. He became a pastor who went all around to give lectures, leading to a career as a motivational speaking. Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. You have permission to edit this article. His autobiography, Heart of a Champion, was published in 1959. 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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