bob richards pole vaulter

"He was the greatest dad I could ever ask for and I will miss him dearly.". The two-time Olympic gold medalist was 97. Be Proactive. Please use the button below to manage your account. [1] He won gold medals in pole vault in both 1952 and 1956, becoming the only . His son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. He became a pastor who went all around to give lectures, leading to a career as a motivational speaking. A Facebook post by his son Brandon said that Richards "passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.". Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Bob Richards, a two-time . {{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. Richards was interested in athletics from boyhood, participating in diving and tumbling before taking up the pole vault in junior high school. Although he broke Olympic records and Russian hearts, and he became one of Americas most lionized and familiar celebrities a motivational speaker and Wheaties pitchman who personified wholesome values and once ran for president of the United States on a third party ticketRichards, even at the peak of his athletic power, was not the greatest American pole-vaulter of all time. Ex-NFL star Irv Cross, who died in 2021, diagnosed with CTE. Bob Richards, the first person to win two Olympic gold medals for pole vaulting, died at 97 on Sunday. From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. 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. 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. Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James will not play Tuesday due to his recent right foot injury, the team announced. 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. Share with Us. The last UAW strike against Caterpillar was in 1994 and lasted 18 months. His success in the air, combined with wholesome looks and an upbeat ministerial eloquence, made Mr. Richards a fixture in American households. 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. 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. Richards competed at the 1948, 52 and 56 Olympics in the pole vault. ; a brother; and 31 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. March 1, 2023 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. In his Facebook post, Brandon Richards said his father began reading the Bible and preaching as a way to overcome his stuttering. 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, two time Olympic Gold Medalist in the pole vault, moved to Waco and the vision became a reality. 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. 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. ALLEN EYESTONE/ THE PALM BEACH POST / USA TODAY NETWORK, By CHARLIE MELTON American athletics competitor, pole vaulter. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. He always motivated us kids the same way to be the best we could be. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, 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. A Facebook post . 1 pole vaulter for eight consecutive years. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). He also was the oldest living Olympic track and field champion before his death. from Illinois. Mr. Richardss daughter said her father regretted running on the Populist Party ticket given the extremism that developed in the party.. Can you imagine going into a boxing ring thinking, Maybe Im not the greatest?. Advertisement. Robert Eugene Richards was born on Feb. 20, 1926, in Champaign, Illinois, the third of five children of Leslie and Margaret (Palfrey) Richards. 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. He played basketball. He had been a pastor in California only briefly, but the dual image of minister and champion athlete was irresistible on the speaking circuit. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Sportswriters called him "the Vaulting Vicar" because he was an ordained minister. 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. '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 Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. Don't Threaten. Wrote Brandon Richards of his dad: "We lost a national treasure." Baylor freshman Riley Richards' pole-vault lineage can be traced all the way back to the 1940s. In the United States presidential election, 1984 Richards ran for President of the Uni 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 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. Brandon Richards said that his father gave over 25,000 motivational speeches to companies and organizations. In addition to the gold medals he won at the 1952 Olympics in Finland and the 1956 Games in Australia, Mr. Richards won 17 national pole vault championships and was ranked No. 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.. Actor: Cavalcade of America. 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. He also appeared on a box of Wheaties cereal. Robert Eugene Richards (February 20, 1926 - February 26, 2023) was an American athlete, minister, and politician. Richards competed at the 1948, 52 and 56 Olympics in the pole vault. That marriage ended in divorce. 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. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. He motivated millions of people to achieve their dreams through positive sports stories, Brandon wrote. So did his grandson Riley, who won two state championships for China Spring High School before going on to compete at Baylor. He started at quarterback for his high school football team. When he turned 20, Mr. Richards was ordained in the Church of the Brethren. Bob Richards of the US team eases over the bar to set a new record for the . Besides winning two gold medals in the Olympics in the 1950s, he took a bronze medal at the 1948 Olympics in London and gold at the Pan American Games in 1951 and 1955. Some clouds. He won the Helms Foundation Trophy and James E. Sullivan Award in 1951 as the outstanding amateur athlete in America. 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. I was competing with a slippery pole.. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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. In 1970, he bicycled 3,300 miles from Los Angeles to New York to promote fitness. The Rev. Jacob Wooten (unat) . Bob Richards Track and Field. Bob Richards, the first person to win two Olympic pole vault gold medals, has died at age 97, according to USA Track and Field. Most of us say, Im the worst. March 1, 2023 Updated Wed., March 1, 2023 at 11:18 a.m.. Bob Richards was featured on a Wheaties box in the . This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bob-Richards, The Olympic Movement - Biography of Robert Richards. Bob Richards 1951.jpg 455 731; 156 KB. Richards was the most successful pole vaulter in U.S. track and field history, in terms of Olympic success. He fared much better in his next two Olympic appearances. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Low near 40F. 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. Will Anderson Jr., top pass rush prospects mimic NFL greats, eye top spot. In his Facebook post, Brandon Richards said his father began reading the Bible and preaching as a way to overcome his stuttering. Bob Richards, 97, pole-vaulting star, first champion on a Wheaties box. 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. He graduated from high school in 1943, and in 1944 he enrolled at the Brethren affiliated Bridgewater College in Virginia. 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. INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The Atlanta Falcons released veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota, the team announced Tuesday. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). 1 pole vaulter. Please subscribe to keep reading. He won a bronze medal in his first Olympic go-around, followed by back-to-back gold medals. Bob Richards. Bob Richards . He was the second person ever to pole vault over 15 feet (4.6 metres), a feat he accomplished in 1947. 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. 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. AP Photo/Olympic World Photo, Pool, File He was 97. By then, Mr. Richards was hopscotching around the country delivering what would add up to more than 25,000 motivational speeches at sales conferences, awards dinners and corporate retreats. 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