Richards continues to reside on his ranch near Waco, Texas. Feb. 20, 1926 - Feb. 26, 2023. INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The Chicago Bears will continue to field offers for the No. With the ministers help, Mr. Richards enrolled at Bridgewater College, a Brethren-affiliated school in Virginia, where he dominated collegiate pole vaulting. But he escaped the street life into religion and athletics. 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 . With none of the nine candidates running for Chicago mayor achieving more than 50% of the vote for an outright victory, the election moves to a runoff. He always motivated us kids the same way to be the best we could be. 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. 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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. With the help of gynecologic oncology specialists at Providence, Amy beat cancerand found the courage to accomplish things shed never dreamed of. The Champaign native went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. He was 97. Larry Keller. We had the wonderful opportunity to interview Mr. Richards thanks to his son. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, 1 eight times in an . His son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.. 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. ; a brother; and 31 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Robert Eugene Bob Richards (born February 20, 1926) is an American athlete who 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. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Atlanta Falcons release QB Marcus Mariota. He became a pastor who went all around to give lectures, leading to a career as a motivational speaking. 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. His sons followed in his pole-vaulting footsteps. . 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. Robert Seagren (born October 17, 1946) is a retired American pole vaulter, the 1968 Olympic champion . A Facebook post . Please use the button below to manage your account. 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. Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Ex-Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane calls trade to Rangers 'bittersweet'. He had become a Brethren minister in 1946 and in 1948 received his M.A. He won a bronze medal in his first Olympic go-around, followed by back-to-back gold medals. Copyright 2023, The Spokesman-Review | Community Guidelines | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy. In his day, he was considered the greatest pole vaulter in history. He became a pastor who went all around to give lectures, leading to a career as a motivational speaker. Bob Richards Track and Field. Be Truthful. In 1958, Olympic pole vaulter Bob Richards became the first athlete to be featured on the front of a Wheaties box. Omissions? 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. I was lucky to even place, Richards told the Tribune-Herald in a 2016 interview. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. The versatile athlete known as the Vaulting Vicar also competed in the Olympic decathlon in 1956. When he turned 20, Mr. Richards was ordained in the Church of the Brethren. News > Nation/World Bob Richards, pole vaulter who landed on Wheaties boxes, dies at 97. ET. Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. or anything. He took gold medals at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, and the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. The UAW made an announcement on its website. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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In his Facebook post, Brandon Richards said his father began reading the Bible and preaching as a way to overcome his stuttering. Richards became the face and voice of the cereal known as the Breakfast of Champions.. But from 1947 to 1957, he dominated national and international competitions by clearing 15 feet more than 125 times. 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. Lakers concerned injured LeBron James may miss more than a week. But pole vaulting, which he took up in junior high, was his obsession. 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. Richards ran for president in 1984. General Mills. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. They had never gotten on a track. Richards competed at the 1948, 52 and 56 Olympics in the pole vault. 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. 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 became a pastor who went all around to give lectures, leading to a career as a motivational speaking. USA Track and Field confirmed his death. In 1957, he played himself in Leap to Heaven on ABCs DuPont Cavalcade Theatre in a dramatization of his life. His sons followed in his pole-vaulting footsteps. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. 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. You have permission to edit this article. Don't Threaten. Former Wheaties Spokesman Said to Back Racist Party. Richards competed at the 1948, 52 and 56 Olympics in the pole vault. His son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.. Illinois pole vaulting legend Bob Richards has passed away. Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. 2023 University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. USA Track . His autobiography, Heart of a Champion, was published in 1959. 1 pole vaulter, Geno Auriemma gives bleak assessment as UConn womens basketball looks to find footing in March: 'Poorly coached team. Bob Richards. Mr. Richards is still the only Olympic pole vaulter to win two gold medals, but hes not the familys lone record holder. Advertisement. [1] He won gold medals in pole vault in both 1952 and 1956, becoming the only . 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. 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. Family, friends and pole vault community, I am heartbroken to say that my . During his travels, Mr. Richards became frustrated that the American Dream was slipping away for farmers and blue-collar workers struggling to buy homes and hold steady jobs. In 1951, he became the second pole vaulter to clear 15 feet. Bob Richards. A Facebook post by his son Brandon said that Richards "passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.". Eighteen salesmen received awards. Chris Nilsen (Nik) 19-4 | 5.90: t2. AP Photo/Olympic World Photo, Pool, File Todays top male vaulters, with refined techniques and springy fiberglass poles that bow almost to U shapes, routinely soar over crossbars set above 19 feet. So what does Sabres GM Kevyn Adams do this week? 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. Much has changed since Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vaulting champion, was Mr. Wheaties. 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. 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. Pole vault. 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. The family that plays and prays together stays together, Richards intoned on countless occasions. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. Richards competed at the 1948, 1952 and 1956 Olympics in the pole vault, and eventually appeared on a box of Wheaties cereal. "The theme for the next few days is clear: Hey Kevyn, the lonely eyes of Sabres fans are turned to you,"Mike Harrington writes. Get breaking news delivered to your inbox as it happens. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). 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 . His eyes shut tightly, his hands knifing through the air, he carries the salesmen to successive peaks of grim determination, Sports Illustrated noted. degree in 1947. He got into some typical teenage troubles in high school, but was set straight by a minister of the Church of the Brethren. The Populist Party sought to abolish income taxes and the Federal Reserve Bank. Bob Richards of the US team eases over the bar to set a new record for the Olympics pole vault. He competed in the 1948 1952 and 1956 Summer Olympics as a pole vaulter and as a decathlete in 1956. March 1, 2023 She died in 2019. Some clouds. 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