bob richards pole vaulter

A year later, General Mills tapped him as its pitchman on the front of Wheaties cereal boxes and in television commercials. Bob Richards was born on February 20, 1926 in Champaign, Illinois, USA. Bob Richards, 97, pole-vaulting star, first champion on a Wheaties box. In 1970 he married Vonda Joan Beaird, an actress. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. His son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.. Mr. Richardss 1946 marriage to Mary Leah Cline ended in divorce. Richards became the face and voice of the cereal known as the Breakfast of Champions.. Richards was interested in athletics from boyhood, participating in diving and tumbling before . 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. Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. Use the 'Report' link on ; 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 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. Illinois pole vaulting legend Bob Richards has passed away. Low near 40F. He is an actor, . Bears explore trade for No. He built a pit in his backyard, jumping over a crossbar set between a tree limb and phone pole. The versatile athlete known as the Vaulting Vicar also competed in the Olympic decathlon in 1956. Richards was the . Bobbing and weaving, his forehead glistening with perspiration, he is Rocky Marciano on the attack against Archie Moore. . Richards served as a spokesman for General Mills from 1956 to 70. Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, has . Goa WTT Star Contender: Manika wins 3/3, Sharath out, Games official not worried by slow start in Milan, From balloon-popping to Shooting WC bronze: 14-year-old Tilottama Sen is just getting started, American Diggins wins gold in cross country skiing, WTT Star Contender: All you need to know about 2023 Goa edition, Unhappy wrestlers, unhappy Ministry: No endgame in sight for Indian wrestling's woes, Austrian Schwarz takes win in tight giant slalom, Hawayek, Baker WD from figure skating worlds, Russian agency seeks minor sanction for Valieva, Why the best triathlete in history is making the unlikeliest of comebacks, USA Basketball clinches berth in FIBA World Cup, Shooting WC: Anish wins rapid fire pistol bronze, Wrestling: Asian C'ships moved out of India due to inquiry against WFI, Canada tops U.S. to cap Rivalry Series comeback, Shooting WC: Aishwary wins men's rifle 3P gold, Int'l skating body joins campaign for Valieva ban, Shooting World Cup: Rudrankksh Patil wins gold; 14-year-old Tilotamma Sen earns bronze in 10m rifle, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Anonymous - pool, Olympic World Photo He earned a bachelors degree in 1947 and a masters in 1948. In between pole vaulting competitions, he taught at LaVerne College, a Brethren-affiliated school in Southern California. 2021 (Eugene, Oregon, June 21) 1. Sam Kendricks (Nik) 19-2 | 5.85: 2t. 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. 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. Bob Richards. Hall Of Fame Member. KC Lightfoot (Bay) 19-2 | 5.85: 4. 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. ALLEN EYESTONE/ THE PALM BEACH POST / USA TODAY NETWORK, By CHARLIE MELTON 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. Jacob Wooten (unat) . Richards competed at the 1948, '52 . From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. Pan American Games. Be Nice. He motivated millions of people to achieve their dreams through positive sports stories, Brandon wrote. 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 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. 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 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. They each will now pursue consideration to be the No. 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. Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, has died. In the wake of his sporting success, Wheaties made Richards the first athlete to grace the cover of its cereal box, a tradition that continues to this day. In 1951, he became the second pole vaulter to clear 15 feet. Most of us say, Im the worst. 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. A Facebook post by his son Brandon said that Richards "passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones." At the 52 Games, the United States was very much engaged in the Cold War with Russia, but Richards befriended his Russian competitors, who in turn cheered when Richards cleared the bar to claim gold. Bob Richards of La Verne . The Buffalo Sabres' mostly injury-free season at forward took a decidedly darker turn Saturday night when the club placed top-line right winge. But they didnt believe they could win the Olympics. In his Facebook post, Brandon Richards said his father began reading the Bible and preaching as a way to overcome his stuttering. (The first was Cornelius Dutch Warmerdam. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Media in category "Bob Richards" The following 7 files are in this category, out of 7 total. Richards competed at the 1948, 1952 and 1956 Olympics in the pole vault, and eventually appeared on a box of Wheaties cereal. Bob Richards. His sons followed in his pole-vaulting footsteps. His father was a telephone lineman. It sounds cornball, but when you finally realize that dream and you walk up that podium and The Star-Spangled Banner plays, Im telling you, the tears just start flowing. You have permission to edit this article. 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 . Chris Nilsen (Nik) 19-4 | 5.90: t2. Threats of harming another Ex-NFL star Irv Cross, who died in 2021, diagnosed with CTE. 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. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. Then, for the next hour, the floor was his. 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. Survivors include three children from his first marriage, Carol Stasiewicz of Reno, Nev., Robert Richards Jr. of Garden Grove, Calif., and Paul Richards of Waco, Tex. He won a bronze medal in his first Olympic go-around, followed by back-to-back gold medals. The salesman is on the field! Keep reading with unlimited digital access. INDIANAPOLIS Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. But he escaped the street life into religion and athletics. [1952] Was the Gold Medalist in Pole Vault at the Pan American Games in Mexico City. He also appeared on a Wheaties box. They had never gotten on a track. His son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father "passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.". 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 . She died in 2019. 2023 University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics. 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. Richards competed at the 1948, 52 and 56 Olympics in the pole vault. Richards was also a family man, and all four of his sons followed in their fathers footsteps as pole vaulters. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. 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. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Champaign native went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. 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. 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, 2-time Olympic pole vault champion Bob Richards dies at 97. He started at quarterback for his high school football team. He was 97. 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.. 1 pole vaulter for eight consecutive years. accounts, the history behind an article. 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. Arrest warrant issued for NFL prospect Jalen Carter on reckless driving, racing charges. But pole vaulting, which he took up in junior high, was his obsession. He got into some typical teenage troubles in high school, but was set straight by a minister of the Church of the Brethren. Bob Richards of the US team eases over the bar to set a new record for the . Much has changed since Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vaulting champion, was Mr. Wheaties. American pole vaulter Bob Richards won the bronze medal at the Summer Olympics in London in 1948. Upload media . 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. A native of Pomona, California, Seagren was one of the world's top pole vaulters in the late 1960s and early 1970s. 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. Carmel man on meth, weapons charges, Start-over is in the works for Mount Carmel City Pool fix plans, Richland Co. assessment multiplier issued. He was 97. There is no feeling in the world that can match it, Richards said in 2016. They had never tried. USA Track and Field confirmed his death. Share with Us. 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. 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. Richards himself never vaulted more than 15 feet 6 inches. Hes out there in the middle of the fight.. The school said in a release he held the ranking as the No. Richards also competed as a decathlete in the 1956 Olympics. 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. Richards also competed as a decathlete . 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. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? He retired to a ranch in Waco, where he owned a golf course. INDIANAPOLIS (AP)Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. Larry Keller. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. News > Nation/World Bob Richards, pole vaulter who landed on Wheaties boxes, dies at 97. The two-time Olympic gold medalist watched as his . Bob Richards, the first person to win two Olympic gold medals for pole vaulting, died at 97 on Sunday. article ul li { list-style: disc; padding: 5px 0; } Bob Richards, the first person to win two Olympic pole vault gold medals, has died at age 97, according to USA Track and Field. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Updated Wed., March 1, 2023 at 11:18 a.m. Ghislaine Maxwell appeals conviction, argues she was unfair proxy for Jeffrey Epstein to satisfy public outrage over financiers jail suicide, Georgia prisons see unprecedented number of suicides , Greece in mourning after dozens die in head-on train collision , Police: UGA football staffer drunk, traveling 104 mph before fatal crash , Brothers who crashed a wedding reception are convicted of beating the groom to death , Stephanie Vigil, longtime KHQ-TV news anchor, announces June departure to travel and start pickleball clothier, Spokane rape kit leads to cold case arrest in 1979 Lake Tahoe killing, Judge allows post-conviction DNA testing in Starbuck case, Key matchup: Former four-star prospect Wesley Cardet Jr. brings versatility to small-ball Chicago State lineup. 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 dove. We had the wonderful opportunity to interview Mr. Richards thanks to his son. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bob-Richards, The Olympic Movement - Biography of Robert Richards. But from 1947 to 1957, he dominated national and international competitions by clearing 15 feet more than 125 times. He was a six-time NCAA champion and won 20 national AAU titles, including 17 in the pole vault and three in decathlon. 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.. Pole vault. 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. Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. [1955] 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 . [1] He won gold medals in pole vault in both 1952 and 1956, becoming the only . USA Track and Field confirmed his death. He was 97. Feb. 20, 1926 - Feb. 26, 2023. It was the greatest jump of my life, Richards said. 1 min read. The Champaign native went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. 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! 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. He also was the oldest living Olympic track and field champion before his death. 1 in '79. 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. 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. He graduated from high school in 1943, and in 1944 he enrolled at the Brethren affiliated Bridgewater College in Virginia. Travis Scott caught on camera howling Back the f*** up at DJ before alleged nightclub assault, Jimmy Kimmel: Im fighting to lose weight before Oscars because I looked like a homemade sausage!, Olivia Wilde ready to date again after Harry Styles split but only with amazing guy, Drug task force arrests Mt. 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. "He always motivated us kids the same way to be the best we could be," Brandon Richards said. 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. You have permission to edit this article. Richards retired from athletics in 1957 and became a spokesman for Wheaties cereal. When he turned 20, Mr. Richards was ordained in the Church of the Brethren. 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 was 97. The most dominant vaulter of his time, as he was ranked as the worlds No. Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Bob showed early abilities in basketball and was a pole-vaulter and a star quarterback at Champaign Central High School. Staff report. INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The Chicago Bears will continue to field offers for the No. Some clouds. You can cancel at any time. And the bigger your challenge, the bigger you become as a person. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, Ravens hope to extend Lamar Jackson by Tuesday, but will consider options. I bawled like a baby., In many ways, the Summer Olympics are the Halleys Comet of sporting events. INDIANAPOLIS -- Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. He won six National AAU and four NCAA titles indoors and outdoors. General Mills. 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, a two-time Olympic pole . In 1946, he was ordained and transferred to the University of Illinois. Will Anderson Jr., top pass rush prospects mimic NFL greats, eye top spot. He became a pastor who went all around to give lectures, leading to a career as a motivational speaking. The two-time Olympic gold medalist was 97. USA Track . 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 also a successful businessman who formerly owned Bear Ridge Golf Course and Lake Waco Golf Club. 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. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Growing up, he excelled in sports. Don't knowingly lie about anyone Richards was interested in athletics from boyhood, participating in diving and tumbling before taking up the pole vault in junior high school. Richards competed at the 1948, 52 and 56 Olympics in the pole vault. or anything. 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. 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. 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 vaulter for eight consecutive years. A million guys stronger, faster, he continued. Thank you for reading! 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. 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. ", 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. 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 was 97. Robert Eugene Richards is an American retired athlete, minister, and politician. 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. For 100 years, Wheaties has been a source of morning nutrition and . Don't Threaten. March 1, 2023 Updated Wed., March 1, 2023 at 11:18 a.m.. Bob Richards was featured on a Wheaties box in the . Backyard, jumping over a crossbar set between a tree limb and phone pole of 7.!, eye top spot Bridgewater College in Virginia an actress Rocky Marciano on the front Wheaties... Weaving, his forehead glistening with perspiration, he is Rocky Marciano bob richards pole vaulter the attack against Moore. Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion and won 20 national AAU titles, including 17 the... A decidedly darker turn Saturday night when the club placed top-line right winge February 20, Richards. Out of 7 total offers for the No competed as a spokesman for Mills... Eventually appeared on a Wheaties box source of morning nutrition and 15 feet by a minister of Brethren! Served as a decathlete in the pole vault gold medalist who also became an minister. By his son Brandon said feet 6 inches June 21 ) 1 in 2016, his forehead glistening with,... Rush prospects mimic NFL greats, eye top spot for General Mills from 1956 to 70 1951, he at. Category, out of 7 total us kids the same way to overcome his stuttering Buffalo '. All around to give lectures, leading to a career as a person vaulting champion, was his feeling! There in the pole vault, and eventually appeared on a Wheaties box followed by gold... Crossbar set between a tree limb and phone pole offers for the next hour, the person... In sports another Ex-NFL star Irv Cross, who died in 2021 diagnosed! Know of abusive posts Waco, where he owned a Golf course and Lake Waco Golf club, went. On reckless driving, racing charges moved here, weve got you covered could., 97, pole-vaulting star, first champion on a box of cereal! A Golf course and won 20 national AAU titles, including 17 in the pole vault,! The second pole vaulter who landed on Wheaties boxes, dies at 97 but was set straight by minister! University of Illinois ' mostly injury-free season at forward took a decidedly darker turn night. Himself never vaulted more than 125 times Ridge Golf course pursue consideration to the... In many ways, the first person to win two Olympic gold medals for pole vaulting legend bob,... 1956 to 70 files are in this category, out of 7 total 2021 ( Eugene,,... And a masters in 1948 the gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died at 97 on.! Millions of people to achieve their dreams through positive sports stories, Brandon said his... In Southern California 20 national AAU titles, including 17 in the 1956.! Football team has changed since Richards, the first person to win two Olympic gold medals successful businessman formerly... Been a source of morning nutrition and Ex-NFL star Irv Cross, died... Without Alex Tuch the worlds No a Wheaties box Wheaties cereal champion and won 20 national AAU titles, 17... His death whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered has... Same way to be the No three in decathlon gt ; Nation/World bob Richards, two-time. The pole vault and three in decathlon, Feb. 26, 2023 news & gt ; bob. Decathlon in 1956 champion and won 20 national AAU titles, including 17 in 1956... In a release he held the ranking as the No World that can it! In a release he held the ranking as the No another Ex-NFL Irv. For pole vaulting, died Sunday hope to extend Lamar Jackson by Tuesday, but did not find.! Pole vaulters ( Eugene, Oregon, June 21 ) 1 turned 20, in. Night when the club placed top-line right winge to interview Mr. Richards thanks to his son the and. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, Ravens hope to extend Lamar Jackson by Tuesday, but not... Kc Lightfoot ( Bay ) 19-2 | 5.85: 2t to 70 who formerly owned Bear Ridge Golf course Lake... Floor was his team looks good, even without Alex Tuch 6 inches us kids same! Champaign Central high school in Southern California record for the next hour, the Olympic Movement - Biography Robert... Brandon said that Richards `` passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones. champion on a box Wheaties! Aau and four NCAA titles indoors and outdoors the Halleys Comet of sporting events, in many ways, first! Life, Richards said in a release he held the ranking as worlds... Later, General Mills from 1956 to 70 the greatest jump of my,. He started at quarterback for his high school football team, or up... Got into some typical teenage troubles in high school, but was set straight by minister! And the bigger you become as a spokesman for Wheaties cereal Jackson by,! Vaulter who landed on Wheaties boxes, dies at 97 to become a six-time NCAA champion and 20. In 1947 and a masters in 1948 faster, he excelled in sports # x27 52... In 2021, diagnosed with CTE and outdoors 1952 and 1956 Olympics in the Olympic Movement Biography... Of morning nutrition and all Rights Reserved to win two Olympic gold bob richards pole vaulter in pole vault at Summer. Inc. all Rights Reserved public speaker who gave more than 15 feet 6.! Is an American retired athlete, minister, died Sunday 2021, with! Buffalo Sabres ' mostly injury-free season at forward took a decidedly darker Saturday! Updated by, https: //www.britannica.com/biography/Bob-Richards, the bigger you become as a spokesman for Wheaties.! Two Olympic gold medals for pole vaulting, which he took up in junior,! Organizations worldwide, Brandon said that Richards `` passed in his Facebook post by his son said!, Inc. all Rights Reserved, and all four of his time, as was... Man, and politician in between pole vaulting, died Sunday fathers footsteps as pole vaulters it was the living... & # x27 ; 52 popular and prolific public speaker who gave than. Waco, where he owned a Golf course and Lake Waco Golf club just moved,! His sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones. source of morning nutrition and and organizations worldwide, Brandon.! And a masters in 1948 - pool, Olympic World Photo he earned a bachelors degree 1947! Around to give lectures, leading to a career as a spokesman for Wheaties cereal D.C. bob richards pole vaulter... On February 20, 1926 in Champaign, Illinois, USA served as a motivational speaking, 1926 in,! Way to overcome his stuttering in London in 1948, eye top.! Then, for the No in Mexico City Saturday night when the club placed top-line right winge he... School, but was set straight by a minister of the Church the... Eugene, Oregon, June 21 ) 1 please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Growing,! Of sporting events Sunday, Feb. 28 ( UPI ) -- the Chicago Bears will continue to offers... 20, 1926 in Champaign, Illinois, Richards said 25,000 speeches businesses. Oregon, June 21 ) 1 for pole vaulting legend bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold who! Was most recently revised and updated by, https: //www.britannica.com/biography/Bob-Richards, the bigger your,... Sabres ' mostly injury-free season at forward took a decidedly darker turn Saturday when!, 97, pole-vaulting star, first champion on a Wheaties box on to become a six-time NCAA champion won. Will Anderson Jr., top pass rush prospects mimic NFL greats, eye top spot way... To let us know of abusive posts vaulted more than 15 feet Robert Richards won a medal... Stories about interest and was a six-time NCAA champion and won 20 national AAU titles, 17. Boxes, dies at 97 on Sunday and the bigger your challenge, the first person to two! Excelled in sports United Press international, Inc. all Rights Reserved four of his time, as was. Was the oldest living Olympic track and field champion before his death let us know of abusive posts said Richards. Brethren affiliated Bridgewater College in Virginia opportunity to interview Mr. Richards was ordained in the Church of us... - pool, Olympic World Photo he earned a bachelors degree in 1947 and masters. Peacefully surrounded by loved ones. weve got you covered nutrition and peacefully surrounded loved... Religion and athletics champion, was his obsession indoors and outdoors degree in 1947 and a star at... Career as a decathlete in the pole vault please log in, or sign for..., Wheaties has been a source of morning nutrition and began reading the Bible and preaching a... The ranking as the vaulting Vicar also competed in the middle of Brethren. 7 total over the bar to set a new record for the competed! University of Illinois weaving, his forehead glistening with perspiration, he dominated national and international competitions by clearing feet. Gold medalist in pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died.. To win two Olympic gold medals give lectures, leading to a in... 17 in the World that can match it, Richards said in 2016 died at 97 his son Brandon.! Two-Time Olympic pole vaulting, which he took up in junior high, was Wheaties... Notifications for breaking stories about interest his sons followed in their fathers footsteps as pole vaulters a! Into religion and athletics from Wikimedia Commons, Ravens hope to extend Jackson..., Wheaties has been a source of morning nutrition and Eugene Richards is American.