Actor: Cavalcade of America. She died in 2019. Mayor Lori Lightfoot came in third and becomes the first elected Chicago mayor to lose a reelection bid since 1983, when Jane Byrne, the citys first female mayor, lost her Democratic primary. Bob Richards waves to the crowd after winning the pole vault gold medal at 1956 Summer Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia, Nov. 26, 1956. Richards competed at the 1948, 52 and 56 Olympics in the pole vault. From Champaign, Illinois, Richards went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. Feb. 27, 2023 Updated 2:44 p.m. We'd love to hear eyewitness He graduated from high school in 1943, and in 1944 he enrolled at the Brethren affiliated Bridgewater College in Virginia. March 1 (UPI) -- Veteran winger Patrick Kane says it was "bittersweet" to learn he was traded from the Chicago Blackhawks to the New York Rangers, but the move puts him in a "better spot" for a fourth championship. 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. 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. Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. He earned a bachelors degree in 1947 and a masters in 1948. INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The Chicago Bears will continue to field offers for the No. Bob Richards Track and Field. His grandfather, Bob, won an Olympic bronze medal at the 1948 games in London -- the same place the . 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He became a pastor who went all around to give lectures, leading to a career as a motivational speaking. His track and field legacy will endure, too. The most colorful pole-vaulter . In his day, he was considered the greatest pole vaulter in history. His father was a telephone lineman. His sons followed in his pole-vaulting footsteps. He won a bronze medal in his first Olympic go-round, followed by back-to-back gold medals. Richards also competed as a decathlete in the 1956 Olympics. He became a pastor who went all around to give lectures, leading to a career as a motivational speaking. Eighteen salesmen received awards. The Populist Party sought to abolish income taxes and the Federal Reserve Bank. At 20, he had been ordained a minister of the Church of the Brethren, an Anabaptist denomination, and the news media had reflexively called him the Vaulting Vicar and the Pole Vaulting Pastor. A Facebook post . 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. Staff report. The Champaign native went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. Be Proactive. The Rev. Bob Richards. 1 in '79. The versatile athlete known as the "Vaulting Vicar" also competed in the Olympic decathlon in 1956. 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. He also appeared on a box of Wheaties cereal. Use the 'Report' link on USA Track and Field confirmed his death. If you want to get a clear picture, Mr. Richards once said, give todays vaulters a stiff pole.. He always motivated us kids the same way to be the best we could be. But from 1947 to 1957, he dominated national and international competitions by clearing 15 feet more than 125 times. 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. Bob Richards, two time Olympic Gold Medalist in the pole vault, moved to Waco and the vision became a reality. 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. 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. Richards won or tied in the pole vault at Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) meets nine times (194857). It is a Monday night, and he is to address the annual awards dinner of the Evansville Sales and Marketing Executives Club, attended by some 200 salesmen and their ladies.. 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. The two-time Olympic gold medalist was 97. At the 1948 Olympic Games in London, he won a bronze medal, and he won his first gold medal at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, repeating this accomplishment at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Robert Eugene Richards was born on Feb. 20, 1926, in Champaign, Ill., the third of five children of Leslie and Margaret (Palfrey) Richards. How close is Florida's Trinity Thomas to the NCAA's perfect 10 record? Richards competed at the 1948, '52 and '56 Olympics in the pole vault. Olympic-winning pole vaulter, pastor Bob Richards dies at 97. He motivated millions of people to achieve their dreams through positive sports stories, Brandon wrote. He won a bronze medal in his first Olympic go-around, followed by back-to-back gold medals. In 1970, he married Vonda Joan Beaird. "I saw it more as a mission than a job," says Richards, who was the General Mills cereal's . Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. 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. Hes out there in the middle of the fight.. Bob Richards. Richards competed at the 1948, 1952 and 1956 Olympics in the pole vault, and eventually appeared on a box of Wheaties cereal. With the ministers help, Mr. Richards enrolled at Bridgewater College, a Brethren-affiliated school in Virginia, where he dominated collegiate pole vaulting. Joe Dial ('81) and nephew Bruce Dial ('93) both ranked No. 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. Richards excelled in basketball, where he was an All Mason/Dixon selection in 1945. . Robert Seagren (born October 17, 1946) is a retired American pole vaulter, the 1968 Olympic champion . 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.. 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. A year later, General Mills tapped him as its pitchman on the front of Wheaties cereal boxes and in television commercials. Please subscribe to keep reading. Richards served as a spokesman for General Mills from 1956 to 70. There is no feeling in the world that can match it, Richards said in 2016. 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. 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. Class Of 1983, Olympian. 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 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. 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. Centex baseball preview: What's old, new, borrowed and blue for 2023? article ul li { list-style: disc; padding: 5px 0; } A native of Pomona, California, Seagren was one of the world's top pole vaulters in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The group, which includes 810 residents, fellows and interns at UB, announced their intent to organize with the Union of American Physicians a. Atlanta Falcons release QB Marcus Mariota. The versatile athlete known as the Vaulting Vicar also competed in the Olympic decathlon in 1956. Caterpillar and the United Auto Workers Union have reached a tentative agreement on a contract, possibly averting a strike. INDIANAPOLIS -- Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. In 1957, he played himself in Leap to Heaven on ABCs DuPont Cavalcade Theatre in a dramatization of his life. Corrections? The Champaign native went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. Richards also competed as a decathlete . 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. "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 Lakers also fear James could miss more than a week while healing. 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. Mr. Richardss 1946 marriage to Mary Leah Cline ended in divorce. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Richards competed at the 1948, 1952 and 1956 Olympics in the pole vault, and eventually appeared on a box of . The Champaign native went on to become a six-time NCAA champion at the University of Illinois. ', '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. 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. (The first was Cornelius Dutch Warmerdam. He was 97. 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. His autobiography, Heart of a Champion, was published in 1959. Richards ran for president in 1984. To feel that youve got it? 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. In 1946, he was ordained and transferred to the University of Illinois. USA Track and Field confirmed his death. 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. 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. Bob Richards of the US team eases over the bar to set a new record for the Olympics pole vault. Don't Threaten. 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. Illinois pole vaulting legend Bob Richards has passed away. Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James will not play Tuesday due to his recent right foot injury, the team announced. Richards retired from athletics in 1957 and became a spokesman for Wheaties cereal. Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson appear headed for the April 4 election. 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. Bob Richards 1951.jpg 455 731; 156 KB. USA Track and Field confirmed his death. Bob Richards 1951 (cropped).jpg 345 503; 81 KB. 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. Copyright 2023, The Spokesman-Review | Community Guidelines | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy. 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. 20 February 1926 in Champaign, Illinois), versatile track and field athlete who was the only man to win two Olympic pole vault titles, and who used his ministry and celebrity status to motivate millions of Americans.Richards was the third of five children of Leslie Richards, a telephone linesman, and Margaret Palfrey Richards, a homemaker. Took 1st Place and Gold Medal in Pole Vault at the Olympic Games in Helsinki. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). So what does Sabres GM Kevyn Adams do this week? His sons followed in his pole-vaulting footsteps. The only other person to win two Olympic pole vault titles is Yelena Isinbayeva from Russia. Richards was interested in athletics from boyhood, participating in diving and tumbling before taking up the pole vault in junior high school. He was 97. The versatile athlete known as the Vaulting Vicar also competed in the Olympic decathlon in 1956. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. His son Paul confirmed the death. He was 97. He was the second person ever to pole vault over 15 feet (4.6 metres), a feat he accomplished in 1947. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Bears explore trade for No. KC Lightfoot (Bay) 19-2 | 5.85: 4. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bob-Richards, The Olympic Movement - Biography of Robert Richards. 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