A year later, General Mills tapped him as its pitchman on the front of Wheaties cereal boxes and in television commercials. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Took 1st Place and Gold Medal in Pole Vault at the Olympic Games in Helsinki. From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. He was 97. 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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., AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports. 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. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. In 1957, he played himself in Leap to Heaven on ABCs DuPont Cavalcade Theatre in a dramatization of his life. If you want to get a clear picture, Mr. Richards once said, give todays vaulters a stiff pole.. Bob Richards waves to the crowd after winning the pole vault gold medal at 1956 Summer Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia, Nov. 26, 1956. USA Track and Field confirmed his death. Your capacity is only discovered, ladies and gentlemen, in challenge. Caterpillar and the United Auto Workers Union have reached a tentative agreement on a contract, possibly averting a strike. By Robert D. McFadden 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. 1 pick, commit to quarterback Justin Fields. You have permission to edit this article. AP Photo/Olympic World Photo, Pool, File They remain pole vault gold for all that take the time to listen to his stories. Some clouds. The school said in a release he held the ranking as the No. Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. Illinois pole vaulting legend Bob Richards has passed away. Feb. 20, 1926 - Feb. 26, 2023. 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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. Keep it Clean. "He always motivated us kids the same way to be the best we could be," Brandon Richards said. Be Truthful. 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. Some clouds. Bob Richards, two time Olympic Gold Medalist in the pole vault, moved to Waco and the vision became a reality. Mr. Richardss daughter said her father regretted running on the Populist Party ticket given the extremism that developed in the party.. Matt Ludwig (unat) 19- | 5.80: 5. He won the Helms Foundation Trophy and James E. Sullivan Award in 1951 as the outstanding amateur athlete in America. Illinois pole vaulting legend Bob Richards has passed away. 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 . 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 he escaped the street life into religion and athletics. 2023 University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics. 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. Bob showed early abilities in basketball and was a pole-vaulter and a star quarterback at Champaign Central High School. [1955] That marriage ended in divorce. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Illinois pole vaulting legend Bob Richards has passed away. Richards competed at the 1948, '52 . 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. 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 is an actor, known for Cavalcade of America (1952), ABC's Wide World of Sports (1961) and XIVth Olympiad: The Glory of Sport (1948). The only other person to win two Olympic pole vault titles is Yelena Isinbayeva from Russia. From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. Im terrible. We wonder why we dont do anything when we dont believe we can. You have permission to edit this article. article ul li { list-style: disc; padding: 5px 0; } In 1951, he became the second pole vaulter to clear 15 feet. With the ministers help, Mr. Richards enrolled at Bridgewater College, a Brethren-affiliated school in Virginia, where he dominated collegiate pole vaulting. Be Nice. A two-time Olympic champion, Richards was going 15 feet when fiberglass poles were . 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 won 17 AAU championships in indoor and outdoor vaulting competitions, and United States decathlon championships in 1951, 1954 and 1955. 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 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. And the bigger your challenge, the bigger you become as a person. 1 pole vaulter for eight consecutive years. Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, has died The Rev. The Lakers also fear James could miss more than a week while healing. The UAW made an announcement on its website. Carmel man on meth, weapons charges, Start-over is in the works for Mount Carmel City Pool fix plans, Richland Co. assessment multiplier issued. 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! 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. degree in 1947. RICHARDS, Robert Eugene ("Bob") (b. Richards earned a bronze medal at the Olympics in 1948, then won gold in 1952 at Helsinki and in 1956 at Melbourne. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. 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. 1 overall pick in the 2023 and are committed to quarterback Justin Fields next season, general manager Ryan Poles told reporters Tuesday in Indianapolis. 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. Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. American pole vaulter Bob Richards won the bronze medal at the Summer Olympics in London in 1948. 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. Sportswriters called him the Vaulting Vicar because he was an ordained minister. Bob Richards of the US team eases over the bar to set a new record for the Olympics pole vault. In 1970 he married Vonda Joan Beaird, an actress. 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. Bob Richards, the first person to win two Olympic pole vault gold medals, died at age 97 . He got into some typical teenage troubles in high school, but was set straight by a minister of the Church of the Brethren. Feb. 27, 2023 Updated 2:44 p.m. They had never gotten on a track. INDIANAPOLIS Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). The two-time Olympic gold medalist watched as his . Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Jacob Wooten (unat) . Bob Richards, a two-time . PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. T. HE POLE VAULT -- the most technologically advanced, adventure-filled event in track and field -- represents all the innocence, bravado, and magic of childhood. He also appeared on a box of Wheaties cereal. INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The Atlanta Falcons released veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota, the team announced Tuesday. 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 competed at the 1948, '52 and '56 Olympics in the pole vault. 1 pole vaulter for eight consecutive years. 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. They each will now pursue consideration to be the No. His autobiography, Heart of a Champion, was published in 1959. In his Facebook post, Brandon Richards said his father began reading the Bible and preaching as a way to overcome his stuttering. Richards competed at the 1948, 52 and 56 Olympics in the pole vault. (The first was Cornelius Dutch Warmerdam. 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. He took gold medals at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, and the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. 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. Will Anderson Jr., top pass rush prospects mimic NFL greats, eye top spot. 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. 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. Bears explore trade for No. The Populist Party sought to abolish income taxes and the Federal Reserve Bank. With the help of gynecologic oncology specialists at Providence, Amy beat cancerand found the courage to accomplish things shed never dreamed of. USA Track and Field confirmed his death. From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. Last month, union members overwhelmingly authorized union leadership to call a strike if the two sides could not reach an agreement. Richards competed at the 1948, 52 and 56 Olympics in the pole vault. 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. 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. He was a six-time NCAA champion and won 20 national AAU titles, including 17 in the pole vault and three in decathlon. 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. 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. Much has changed since Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vaulting champion, was Mr. Wheaties. So what does Sabres GM Kevyn Adams do this week? Richards competed at the 1948, 1952 and 1956 Olympics in the pole vault, and eventually appeared on a box of . 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.. To feel that youve got it? AP Photo/Olympic World Photo, Pool, File. Pole vault. Pole vaulter Rev. 1 pole vaulter, Geno Auriemma gives bleak assessment as UConn womens basketball looks to find footing in March: 'Poorly coached team. 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. His track and field legacy will endure, too. His autobiography, Heart of a Champion, was published in 1959. Richards was the most successful pole vaulter in U.S. track and field history, in terms of Olympic success. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism USA Track and Field confirmed his death. He was 97. 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. Lakers also fear James could miss more than a week while healing Wheaties cereal averting a strike if the sides... Feb. 28 ( UPI ) -- the Atlanta Falcons released veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota, team... Appeared on a box of Wheaties cereal Bob Richards has passed away ' injury-free. 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