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. [1955] 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 last UAW strike against Caterpillar was in 1994 and lasted 18 months. From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. With the help of gynecologic oncology specialists at Providence, Amy beat cancerand found the courage to accomplish things shed never dreamed of. Packers await Rodgers' decision on future, cite potential contract restructuring. Class Of 1983, Olympian. 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. His son Paul confirmed the death. 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. Don't Threaten. Illinois pole vaulting legend Bob Richards has passed away. In his day, he was considered the greatest pole vaulter in history. His sons followed in his pole-vaulting footsteps. INDIANAPOLIS -- Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. You can cancel at any time. Bob Richards, a two-time . Richards was interested in athletics from boyhood, participating in diving and tumbling before . Olympic-winning pole vaulter, pastor Bob Richards dies at 97. London 1948, bronze (pole vault) Helsinki 1952, gold (pole vault) Melbourne 1956, gold (pole vault) . Richards competed at the 1948, 52 and 56 Olympics in the pole vault. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. 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. Mr. Richards is still the only Olympic pole vaulter to win two gold medals, but hes not the familys lone record holder. Will Anderson Jr., top pass rush prospects mimic NFL greats, eye top spot. Some clouds. Get breaking news delivered to your inbox as it happens. "The theme for the next few days is clear: Hey Kevyn, the lonely eyes of Sabres fans are turned to you,"Mike Harrington writes. Actor: Cavalcade of America. Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. His son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.. 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. Thank you for reading! Time skulks along slowly between the arrival of each Olympics, an. Wrote Brandon Richards of his dad: "We lost a national treasure." Bob Richards of La Verne . AP Photo/Olympic World Photo, Pool, File In 1957, he played himself in Leap to Heaven on ABCs DuPont Cavalcade Theatre in a dramatization of his life. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). 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. Hes out there in the middle of the fight.. Your capacity is only discovered, ladies and gentlemen, in challenge. Lakers concerned injured LeBron James may miss more than a week. For 100 years, Wheaties has been a source of morning nutrition and . 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. Much has changed since Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vaulting champion, was Mr. Wheaties. Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. 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. Richards' exploits in track and field earned him three Olympic medals, a record, and 20 national titles. '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. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. He earned a bachelors degree in 1947 and a masters in 1948. Baylor freshman Riley Richards' pole-vault lineage can be traced all the way back to the 1940s. He married the college presidents niece, Mary Leah Cline, in 1946. article ul li { list-style: disc; padding: 5px 0; } I was competing with a slippery pole.. Robert Eugene Bob Richards (born February 20, 1926) is an American athlete who 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. racist or sexually-oriented language. ", 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. 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. Copyright 2023, The Spokesman-Review | Community Guidelines | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism He got into some typical teenage troubles in high school, but was set straight by a minister of the Church of the Brethren. Brandon Richards said that his father gave over 25,000 motivational speeches to companies and organizations. 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 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. 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. Most of us say, Im the worst. 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 competed in the 1948 1952 and 1956 Summer Olympics as a pole vaulter and as a decathlete in 1956. Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James will not play Tuesday due to his recent right foot injury, the team announced. Long before modern athletes began riding fiberglass poles to unimaginable heights, the Rev. Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, has died The Rev. 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. Media in category "Bob Richards" The following 7 files are in this category, out of 7 total. 1 vaulter for eight consecutive years. Bobbing and weaving, his forehead glistening with perspiration, he is Rocky Marciano on the attack against Archie Moore. Boo-tiful! This big Russian picked me up and gave me a hug, and that photo was seen all over the world.. Bob Richards, a two-time . He was a six-time NCAA champion and won 20 national AAU titles, including 17 in the pole vault and three in decathlon. Richards was the . Low near 40F. He always motivated us kids the same way to be the best we could be. But from 1947 to 1957, he dominated national and international competitions by clearing 15 feet more than 125 times. 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. 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. Mr. Richards purchased a 300 acre ranch on the Brazos River in Waco, known as the Crossbar Ranch. 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. Please subscribe to keep reading. After winning a second goal medal, Mr. Richardss career as pitchman took off, buoyed not just by Wheaties but also his popular 1959 autobiography Heart of a Champion.. Bob Richards, the first person to win two Olympic pole vault gold medals, has died at age 97, according to USA Track and Field. The third of five children, Robert Eugene Richards was born in Champaign, Ill., on Feb. 20, 1926. Richards retired from athletics in 1957 and became a spokesman for Wheaties cereal. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. 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. I cant do anything. 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 . His father was a telephone lineman. Richards also competed as a decathlete in the 1956 Olympics. His father worked as a telephone lineman, and his mother was a homemaker. In his Facebook post, Brandon Richards said his father began reading the Bible and preaching as a way to overcome his stuttering. Bob Richards 1951.jpg 455 731; 156 KB. In the United States presidential election, 1984 Richards ran for President of the Uni 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. Richards competed at the 1948, 52 and 56 Olympics in the pole vault. Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. 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. He had been a pastor in California only briefly, but the dual image of minister and champion athlete was irresistible on the speaking circuit. The school said in a release he held the ranking as the No. RICHARDS, Robert Eugene ("Bob") (b. Mr. Richardss 1946 marriage to Mary Leah Cline ended in divorce. The two-time Olympic gold medalist was 97. He was 97. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Bob Richards. His success in the air, combined with wholesome looks and an upbeat ministerial eloquence, made Mr. Richards a fixture in American households. He was 97. 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! The versatile athlete known as the Vaulting Vicar also competed in the Olympic decathlon in 1956. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Pole vaulter Rev. 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. There is no feeling in the world that can match it, Richards said in 2016. Advertisement. Bob Richards, 97, pole-vaulting star, first champion on a Wheaties box. He was the greatest dad I could ever ask for and I will miss him dearly. 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. That marriage ended in divorce. 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. He was 97. He won a bronze medal in his first Olympic go-around, followed by back-to-back gold medals. 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 speaking. March 1, 2023 Updated Wed., March 1, 2023 at 11:18 a.m.. Bob Richards was featured on a Wheaties box in the . In 1970, he bicycled 3,300 miles from Los Angeles to New York to promote fitness. A two-time Olympic champion, Richards was going 15 feet when fiberglass poles were . 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. His autobiography, Heart of a Champion, was published in 1959. 1967 Winnipeg. Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. 1. History of US Nationals Results: Pole Vault - Men. The most dominant vaulter of his time, as he was ranked as the worlds No. 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. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He added that his father "always motivated us kids the same way to be the best we could be. 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. [1952] Was the Gold Medalist in Pole Vault at the Pan American Games in Mexico City. Caterpillar and the United Auto Workers Union have reached a tentative agreement on a contract, possibly averting a strike. Bob Richards Track and Field. The Buffalo Sabres' mostly injury-free season at forward took a decidedly darker turn Saturday night when the club placed top-line right winge. AP Photo/Olympic World Photo, Pool, File. Waco's 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 motivated millions of people to achieve their dreams through positive sports stories, Brandon wrote. From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. The most colorful pole-vaulter . USA Track and Field confirmed his death. 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. The Lakers also fear James could miss more than a week while healing. From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. 2021 (Eugene, Oregon, June 21) 1. 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. 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