He was 97. In 1951, he became the second pole vaulter to clear 15 feet. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). 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. Richards was interested in athletics from boyhood, participating in diving and tumbling before taking up the pole vault in junior high school. A year later, General Mills tapped him as its pitchman on the front of Wheaties cereal boxes and in television commercials. Mr. Richards purchased a 300 acre ranch on the Brazos River in Waco, known as the Crossbar Ranch. The salesman is on the field! Your capacity is only discovered, ladies and gentlemen, in challenge. INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The Chicago Bears will continue to field offers for the No. 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. ; three children from his second marriage, Brandon Richards and Thomas Richards, both of China Spring, Tex., and Tammy Richards LeSure of Mansfield, Tex. 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. 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 . 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. 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. [1952] Was the Gold Medalist in Pole Vault at the Pan American Games in Mexico City. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. He married the college presidents niece, Mary Leah Cline, in 1946. Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. He was 97. His son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.. Copyright 2023, The Spokesman-Review | Community Guidelines | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy. Richards retired from athletics in 1957 and became a spokesman for Wheaties cereal. 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. He was 97. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. His sons followed in his pole-vaulting footsteps. He retired to a ranch in Waco, where he owned a golf course. He motivated millions of people to achieve their dreams through positive sports stories, Brandon wrote. He transferred to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he graduated in 1947, the same year he tied for first in pole vaulting at the NCAA championships. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. A two-time Olympic champion, Richards was going 15 feet when fiberglass poles were . The Champaign native went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. [1955] But pole vaulting, which he took up in junior high, was his obsession. American pole vaulter Bob Richards won the bronze medal at the Summer Olympics in London in 1948. Robert E. "Bob" Richards came to Bridgewater in 1944 and was a two-sport athlete. "He was the greatest dad I could ever ask for and I will miss him dearly.". 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. Richards was interested in athletics from boyhood, participating in diving and tumbling before . Richards himself never vaulted more than 15 feet 6 inches. From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. The versatile athlete known as the Vaulting Vicar also competed in the Olympic decathlon in 1956. His father was a telephone lineman. His sons followed in his pole-vaulting footsteps. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. I was competing with a slippery pole.. The most colorful pole-vaulter . 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. 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. Chris Nilsen (Nik) 19-4 | 5.90: t2. Richards competed at the 1948, 1952 and 1956 Olympics in the pole vault, and eventually appeared on a box of . They each will now pursue consideration to be the No. With the help of gynecologic oncology specialists at Providence, Amy beat cancerand found the courage to accomplish things shed never dreamed of. Bobbing and weaving, his forehead glistening with perspiration, he is Rocky Marciano on the attack against Archie Moore. KC Lightfoot (Bay) 19-2 | 5.85: 4. If you want to get a clear picture, Mr. Richards once said, give todays vaulters a stiff pole.. London 1948, bronze (pole vault) Helsinki 1952, gold (pole vault) Melbourne 1956, gold (pole vault) . 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. Richards also became involved in politics, and he was the Populist Partys presidential candidate in the 1984 election; he received approximately 66,000 votes. He was the greatest dad I could ever ask for and I will miss him dearly.. 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. Pan American Games. Bob Richards was born on 20 February 1926 in Champaign, Illinois, USA. 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. Get breaking news delivered to your inbox as it happens. The UAW made an announcement on its website. Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole . 1 pole vaulter for eight consecutive years. 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. person will not be tolerated. Please use the button below to manage your account. So what does Sabres GM Kevyn Adams do this week? Bob Richards: 15-1 . Will Anderson Jr., top pass rush prospects mimic NFL greats, eye top spot. A Facebook post by his son Brandon said that Richards "passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones." ET. In his Facebook post, Brandon Richards said his father began reading the Bible and preaching as a way to overcome his stuttering. Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. "I saw it more as a mission than a job," says Richards, who was the General Mills cereal's . 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. 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. The two-time Olympic gold medalist was 97. Upload media . In a matter of minutes he has the Evansville salesmen in his grip. Robert Eugene Richards is an American retired athlete, minister, and politician. 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. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. Atlanta Falcons release QB Marcus Mariota. He won gold medals in pole vault in both 1952 and 1956, becoming the only male two-time champion in the event in Olympic history. His track and field legacy will endure, too. Olympic-winning pole vaulter, pastor Bob Richards dies at 97. His success in the air, combined with wholesome looks and an upbeat ministerial eloquence, made Mr. Richards a fixture in American households. Bob showed early abilities in basketball and was a pole-vaulter and a star quarterback at Champaign Central High School. Be Proactive. He played basketball. I cant do anything. Long before modern athletes began riding fiberglass poles to unimaginable heights, the Rev. Mr. Richardss daughter said her father regretted running on the Populist Party ticket given the extremism that developed in the party.. Bob Richards is a remarkable human being. that is degrading to another person. 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. Corrections? 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. I was lucky to even place, Richards told the Tribune-Herald in a 2016 interview. 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. He is an actor, . Robert Eugene Richards was born on Feb. 20, 1926, in Champaign, Illinois, the third of five children of Leslie and Margaret (Palfrey) Richards. Richards competed at the 1948, '52 . 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. American Bob Richards waves his hands to the crowd after winning the pole vault final at the Olympic Stadium at the Summer Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia, Nov. 26, 1956. or anything. Richards . 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. You have permission to edit this article. The Populist Party sought to abolish income taxes and the Federal Reserve Bank. 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The family that plays and prays together stays together, Richards intoned on countless occasions. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. 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. Some clouds. 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. 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. 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. 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. His eyes shut tightly, his hands knifing through the air, he carries the salesmen to successive peaks of grim determination, Sports Illustrated noted. General Mills. The busy and popular local doughnut chain will move its operations from 8560 Main St. to 8010 Transit Road this spring. 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. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Bob showed early abilities in basketball and was a pole-vaulter and a star quarterback at Champaign Central High School. 2021 (Eugene, Oregon, June 21) 1. There is no feeling in the world that can match it, Richards said in 2016. Family, friends and pole vault community, I am heartbroken to say that my . Forehead glistening with perspiration, he is Rocky Marciano on the Brazos River in Waco, known as the ranch... The 1948, & # x27 ; 52 vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, and appeared... Never dreamed of the busy and popular local doughnut chain will move operations! 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