His son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father "passed in his sleep peacefully surrounded by loved ones.". Bob Richards, the first person to win two Olympic pole vault gold medals, has died at age 97, according to USA Track and Field. Richards earned a bronze medal at the Olympics in 1948, then won gold in 1952 at Helsinki and in 1956 at Melbourne. If you want to get a clear picture, Mr. Richards once said, give todays vaulters a stiff pole.. 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. from Illinois. He was 97. Much has changed since Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vaulting champion, was Mr. Wheaties. He was 97. In his day, he was considered the greatest pole vaulter in history. Share with Us. 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Wrote Brandon Richards of his dad: "We lost a national treasure." Hospital food is a punchline. I bawled like a baby., In many ways, the Summer Olympics are the Halleys Comet of sporting events. 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, a two-time Olympic pole . Bob Richards, a two-time . Matt Ludwig (unat) 19- | 5.80: 5. 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. degree in 1947. The two-time Olympic gold medalist was 97. ), Mr. Richards started but didnt complete a doctorate in philosophy. He was 97. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism 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. Eighteen salesmen received awards. Mr. Richards is still the only Olympic pole vaulter to win two gold medals, but hes not the familys lone record holder. Bob Richards of the US team eases over the bar to set a new record for the . 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. 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 was 97. 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. 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 . Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 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. In 1951, he became the second pole vaulter to clear 15 feet. After finishing last season strong, CJ Abrams is ready for more, son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father, release he held the ranking as the No. INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The Chicago Bears will continue to field offers for the No. Illinois pole vaulting legend Bob Richards has passed away. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. Bob Richards was born on February 20, 1926 in Champaign, Illinois, USA. I was competing with a slippery pole.. Hes out there in the middle of the fight.. History of US Nationals Results: Pole Vault - Men. The salesman is on the field! 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 busy and popular local doughnut chain will move its operations from 8560 Main St. to 8010 Transit Road this spring. racist or sexually-oriented language. 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. Time skulks along slowly between the arrival of each Olympics, an. 1 pole vaulter for eight consecutive years. 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. 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. AP Photo/Olympic World Photo, Pool, File Jacob Wooten (unat) . Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). His father was a telephone lineman. Chris Nilsen (Nik) 19-4 | 5.90: t2. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. They had never tried. 1. Richards was interested in athletics from boyhood, participating in diving and tumbling before taking up the pole vault in junior high school. "The theme for the next few days is clear: Hey Kevyn, the lonely eyes of Sabres fans are turned to you,"Mike Harrington writes. The versatile athlete known as the "Vaulting Vicar" also competed in the Olympic decathlon in 1956. His eyes shut tightly, his hands knifing through the air, he carries the salesmen to successive peaks of grim determination, Sports Illustrated noted. The two-time Olympic gold medalist watched as his . 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. 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. Known alternatively as the Vaulting Vicar and the Pole Vaulting Pastor, Mr. Richards was one of the most dominating athletes of his time, leaping as high as 15 feet 6 inches with a stiff metal pole in the days before flexible fiberglass helped Olympic vaulters cross over bars nearly 20 feet in height. 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. From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. He became a pastor who went all around to give lectures, leading to a career as a motivational speaking. Low near 40F. To this day, Richards three Olympic medals (two gold, one bronze) are more than any other mens competitor in history. Robert Eugene Richards was born on Feb. 20, 1926, in Champaign, Ill., the third of five children of Leslie and Margaret (Palfrey) Richards. She died in 2019. In 1970, he bicycled 3,300 miles from Los Angeles to New York to promote fitness. 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. After a difficult adolescence and the breakup of his home by divorce, he was reared by a minister in the Church of the Brethren. His sons followed in his pole-vaulting footsteps. I cant do anything. He became a pastor who went all around to give lectures, leading to a career as a motivational speaking. With the help of gynecologic oncology specialists at Providence, Amy beat cancerand found the courage to accomplish things shed never dreamed of. Pole vault. The two-time Olympic gold medalist was 97. Richards competed at the 1948, '52 . Updates? 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. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. I went over the crossbar by a foot. Richards excelled in basketball, where he was an All Mason/Dixon selection in 1945. . Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. March 1, 2023 Updated Wed., March 1, 2023 at 11:18 a.m.. Bob Richards was featured on a Wheaties box in the . Bob Richards. ', '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. USA Track and Field confirmed his death. He became a pastor who went all around to give lectures, leading to a career as a motivational speaker. He was 97. He also was the oldest living Olympic track and field champion before his death. His son Paul confirmed the death. Jeff's good friend and old training partner, Brandon Richards had an 8th grade son that vaulted at the school that Jeff was coaching at. Richards was the most successful pole vaulter in U.S. track and field history, in terms of Olympic success. He is an actor, . We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. 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. 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. He won the Helms Foundation Trophy and James E. Sullivan Award in 1951 as the outstanding amateur athlete in America. Corrections? They had never gotten on a track. The last UAW strike against Caterpillar was in 1994 and lasted 18 months. 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