A Facebook post by his son Brandon said that Richards "passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones." Low near 40F. Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, has died The Rev. Hall Of Fame Member. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Copyright 2023, The Spokesman-Review | Community Guidelines | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy. Illinois pole vaulting legend Bob Richards has passed away. He started at quarterback for his high school football team. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). He also won decathlon championships in the 1951 and 195455 AAU meets. 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 won the Helms Foundation Trophy and James E. Sullivan Award in 1951 as the outstanding amateur athlete in America. Bob Richards, the first person to win two Olympic gold medals for pole vaulting, died at 97 on Sunday. 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. 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. Mr. Richards is still the only Olympic pole vaulter to win two gold medals, but hes not the familys lone record holder. Updates? Wrote Brandon Richards of his dad: We lost a national treasure. He added that his father always motivated us kids the same way to be the best we could be. 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. USA Track and Field confirmed his death. 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. The most dominant vaulter of his time, as he was ranked as the worlds No. [1955] We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Former NFL star cornerback Irv Cross, who died in 2021, was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Boston University researchers said Tuesday. The last UAW strike against Caterpillar was in 1994 and lasted 18 months. ", 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. They each will now pursue consideration to be the No. In the same period he also won eight indoor championships. Richards was also a family man, and all four of his sons followed in their fathers footsteps as pole vaulters. ', '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. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Carmel man on meth, weapons charges, Start-over is in the works for Mount Carmel City Pool fix plans, Richland Co. assessment multiplier issued. But they didnt believe they could win the Olympics. A Facebook post by his son Brandon said that Richards "passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.". 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 is an actor, . 0. He won a bronze medal in his first Olympic go-around, followed by back-to-back gold medals. History of US Nationals Results: Pole Vault - Men. The Rev. 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 . 1 vaulter for eight consecutive years. In his Facebook post, Brandon Richards said his father began reading the Bible and preaching as a way to overcome his stuttering. Pole vaulter Bob Richards passes away. He competed in the 1948 1952 and 1956 Summer Olympics as a pole vaulter and as a decathlete in 1956. ), Mr. Richards started but didnt complete a doctorate in philosophy. Class Of 1983, Olympian. He married the college presidents niece, Mary Leah Cline, in 1946. March 1, 2023 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. 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. Richards won or tied in the pole vault at Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) meets nine times (194857). 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. Long before modern athletes began . He was 97. Robert Seagren (born October 17, 1946) is a retired American pole vaulter, the 1968 Olympic champion . 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. Brandon`s father, Bob Richards, is to the pole vault what Babe Ruth is to the home run: a standard of comparison. 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HE POLE VAULT -- the most technologically advanced, adventure-filled event in track and field -- represents all the innocence, bravado, and magic of childhood. He became a pastor who went all around to give lectures, leading to a career as a motivational speaker. Be Nice. Bob showed early abilities in basketball and was a pole-vaulter and a star quarterback at Champaign Central High School. 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. I was competing with a slippery pole.. 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. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Lakers concerned injured LeBron James may miss more than a week. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Richards also became involved in politics, and he was the Populist Partys presidential candidate in the 1984 election; he received approximately 66,000 votes. 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. I cant do anything. Pan American Games. 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. We had the wonderful opportunity to interview Mr. Richards thanks to his son. In a matter of minutes he has the Evansville salesmen in his grip. Ex-Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane calls trade to Rangers 'bittersweet'. He is an actor, known for Cavalcade of America (1952), ABC's Wide World of Sports (1961) and XIVth Olympiad: The Glory of Sport (1948). 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For 100 years, Wheaties has been a source of morning nutrition and . 1 pole vaulter for eight consecutive years. Richards was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1983 and the U.S. National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1975. From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. He motivated millions of people to achieve their dreams through positive sports stories, Brandon wrote. He was 97. Pole vault. 1 pole vaulter. In his day, he was considered the greatest pole vaulter in history. You have permission to edit this article. 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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. He built a pit in his backyard, jumping over a crossbar set between a tree limb and phone pole. Hes out there in the middle of the fight.. 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. Richards ran for president in 1984. 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.. 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. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. or anything. His father was a telephone lineman. 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 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. Sportswriters called him the Vaulting Vicar because he was an ordained minister. 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. Illinois pole vaulting legend Bob Richards has passed away. He also appeared on a box of Wheaties cereal. 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. She died in 2019. 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. 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. USA Track and Field confirmed his death. To feel that youve got it? Joe Dial ('81) and nephew Bruce Dial ('93) both ranked No. The school said in a release he held the ranking as the No. He was 97. Bob Richards was born on February 20, 1926 in Champaign, Illinois, USA. 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. He was also a successful businessman who formerly owned Bear Ridge Golf Course and Lake Waco Golf Club. Chris Nilsen (Nik) 19-4 | 5.90: t2. I went over the crossbar by a foot. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Long before modern athletes began riding fiberglass poles to unimaginable heights, the Rev. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, Ravens hope to extend Lamar Jackson by Tuesday, but will consider options. 2023 University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics. His son, Brandon, w Packers await Rodgers' decision on future, cite potential contract restructuring. Richards earned a bronze medal at the Olympics in 1948, then won gold in 1952 at Helsinki and in 1956 at Melbourne. Wrote Brandon Richards of his dad: We lost a national treasure. He added that his father always motivated us kids the same way to be the best we could be. In 1951, he became the second pole vaulter to clear 15 feet. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bob-Richards, The Olympic Movement - Biography of Robert Richards. Share with Us. Most of us say, Im the worst. 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. INDIANAPOLIS (AP)Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. Took 1st Place and Gold Medal in Pole Vault at the Olympic Games in Helsinki. 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. Please use the button below to manage your account. "He was the greatest dad I could ever ask for and I will miss him dearly.". 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. He was the greatest dad I could ever ask for and I will miss him dearly. Bob Richards, a two-time . person will not be tolerated. 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! ALLEN EYESTONE/ THE PALM BEACH POST / USA TODAY NETWORK, By CHARLIE MELTON Don't knowingly lie about anyone Caterpillar and the United Auto Workers Union have reached a tentative agreement on a contract, possibly averting a strike. 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 the US team eases over the bar to set a new record for the Olympics pole vault. Robert Eugene Richards was born on Feb. 20, 1926, in Champaign, Ill., the third of five children of Leslie and Margaret (Palfrey) Richards. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. The Champaign native went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. 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. He was 97. Richards was born and raised in Illinois, but moved to the Waco area after his athletic career ended. He took gold medals at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, and the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. Im terrible. We wonder why we dont do anything when we dont believe we can. 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. London 1948, bronze (pole vault) Helsinki 1952, gold (pole vault) Melbourne 1956, gold (pole vault) . 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. I bawled like a baby., In many ways, the Summer Olympics are the Halleys Comet of sporting events. From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. His sons followed in his pole-vaulting footsteps. 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.