Richards excelled in basketball, where he was an All Mason/Dixon selection in 1945. . March 1, 2023 Updated Wed., March 1, 2023 at 11:18 a.m.. Bob Richards was featured on a Wheaties box in the . 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. Bob Richards was born on 20 February 1926 in Champaign, Illinois, USA. 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. degree in 1947. "He was the greatest dad I could ever ask for and I will miss him dearly.". In his day, he was considered the greatest pole vaulter in history. After a difficult adolescence and the breakup of his home by divorce, he was reared by a minister in the Church of the Brethren. Bob Richards won more Olympic medals in the mens pole vault than any athlete in history, winning two gold medals and one bronze. The salesman is on the field! 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. Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, has . 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. From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. He competed in the 1948 1952 and 1956 Summer Olympics as a pole vaulter and as a decathlete in 1956. 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! Richards was the most successful pole vaulter in U.S. track and field history, in terms of Olympic success. 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 also appeared on a box of Wheaties cereal. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Ex-NFL star Irv Cross, who died in 2021, diagnosed with CTE. Jacob Wooten (unat) . Upload media . Richards was born and raised in Illinois, but moved to the Waco area after his athletic career ended. ALLEN EYESTONE/ THE PALM BEACH POST / USA TODAY NETWORK, By CHARLIE MELTON When the cheerleading coach broke the news to Katrina Kohel that she was the only one left on the cheer squad, Kohel was determined to compete anyway. 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 . They had never tried. 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. Mr. Richardss daughter said her father regretted running on the Populist Party ticket given the extremism that developed in the party.. INDIANAPOLIS Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. He married the college presidents niece, Mary Leah Cline, in 1946. He won six National AAU and four NCAA titles indoors and outdoors. Bob Richards, a two-time . 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Bob Richards, a two-time . That marriage ended in divorce. Bob showed early abilities in basketball and was a pole-vaulter and a star quarterback at Champaign Central High School. Centex baseball preview: What's old, new, borrowed and blue for 2023? Atlanta Falcons release QB Marcus Mariota. INDIANAPOLIS -- Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. 1 pole vaulter for eight consecutive years. 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 . 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. 1 vaulter for eight consecutive years. He was 97. In his Facebook post, Brandon Richards said his father began reading the Bible and preaching as a way to overcome his stuttering. Feb. 20, 1926 - Feb. 26, 2023. that is degrading to another person. 2023 University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics. Actor: Cavalcade of America. The Rev. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Most of us say, Im the worst. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Richards also competed as a decathlete in the 1956 Olympics. Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James will not play Tuesday due to his recent right foot injury, the team announced. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Richards did it for schools in 2 statesas a junior in Texas, then as a senior in California) All in the family: 4 great pairs are represented here, topped by Mondo and his father Greg, who ranked twice, including a No. He won a bronze medal in his first Olympic go-around, followed by back-to-back 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, 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bob-Richards, The Olympic Movement - Biography of Robert Richards. He was 97. INDIANAPOLIS (AP)Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Staff report. For 100 years, Wheaties has been a source of morning nutrition and . London 1948, bronze (pole vault) Helsinki 1952, gold (pole vault) Melbourne 1956, gold (pole vault) . Lakers concerned injured LeBron James may miss more than a week. USA Track and Field confirmed his death. But pole vaulting, which he took up in junior high, was his obsession. Richards himself never vaulted more than 15 feet 6 inches. I say this and dont say this to be humble, Mr. Richards said in a recorded speech sold as Theres Genius in the Average Man, but I reckon that there were over a million guys in America who could have beaten me in both Olympic Games. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. The school said in a release he held the ranking as the No. 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. His son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.. He added that his father "always motivated us kids the same way to be the best we could be. 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 Richards, the first person to win two Olympic pole vault gold medals, has died at age 97, according to USA Track and Field. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. His son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.. Use the 'Report' link on His son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father "passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.". His sons followed in his pole-vaulting footsteps. Dozens killed after ship carrying migrants wrecks off Italy coast. He was 97. 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. 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. He was 97. Family, friends and pole vault community, I am heartbroken to say that my . 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. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Richards served as a spokesman for General Mills from 1956 to 70. In the United States presidential election, 1984 Richards ran for President of the Uni Bob Richards 2.jpg 801 1,000; 128 KB. His sons followed in his pole-vaulting footsteps. How close is Florida's Trinity Thomas to the NCAA's perfect 10 record? And the bigger your challenge, the bigger you become as a person. I cant do anything. His father was a telephone lineman. 1 in final CT wrestling poll for second straight year, 2023 NHC Boys Hockey Tournament Schedule / Scoreboard, Girls ice hockey top performances from conference tournaments, GameTimeCT Top 10 Girls Basketball Poll (March 1), CIAC boys basketball tournament scoreboard and schedule, UConn men kick off March with last home game of season vs. DePaul, CT native named Philadelphia Eagles Defensive Coordinator, Latest GameTimeCT Top 10 Boys Hockey Poll, son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father, release he held the ranking as the No. The versatile athlete known as the Vaulting Vicar also competed in the Olympic decathlon in 1956. INDIANAPOLIS Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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Until 2012, he had lived on a ranch in Santo, Texas, which he named the Crossbar Ranch and which was involved in numerous commercial activities, including oil and gas exploration and horse and cattle grazing. 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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. Bob Richards, the first person to win two Olympic pole vault gold medals, died at age 97 . Originally published on thecentersquare.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange. In his Facebook post, Brandon Richards said his father began reading the Bible and preaching as a way to overcome his stuttering. Sportswriters called him "the Vaulting Vicar" because he was an ordained minister. 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 . 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. Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023 won six National AAU and four NCAA titles indoors and outdoors minister died. Social media post that his father began reading bob richards pole vaulter Bible and preaching as a.! ; 128 KB: //www.britannica.com/biography/Bob-Richards, the first person to win two Olympic pole vault medalist! Dozens killed after ship carrying migrants wrecks off Italy coast the college presidents niece Mary! Will miss him dearly. `` Olympic success published on thecentersquare.com, part of the Uni bob Richards, two-time. 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