Robert Eugene Richards (February 20, 1926 – February 26, 2023) was an American athlete, minister, and politician. 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.[1] He won gold medals in pole vault in both 1952 and 1956, becoming the only male two-time champion in the event in Olympic history.
While Richards is known for his extraordinary athleticism, that led to his appearing for many years on “Wheaties” cereal boxes and as a result, he became the “face” of that cereal for many years, particularly during the 1960s. Such recognition is rarely seen during this millennium.
Richards was the second man to pole vault 15 ft (4.57 m). While a student at the University of Illinois, Richards tied for the national collegiate pole vault title and followed that with 20 national Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) titles, including 17 in the pole vault and three in the decathlon.[2][3][4] The first man to clear 15 feet was Dutch Warmerdam, who set the world record of 4.77 m (15 ft 7+3⁄4 in) in 1942, long before Richards came into his prime. While Richards was the dominant vaulter of his time, he never set a world record.
Richards later became involved in promoting physical fitness and continued to vault in his later years. He was the first athlete to appear on the front of Wheaties cereal boxes in 1958 (though not the first depicted on all parts of the packaging), and also was the first Wheaties spokesman, setting up the Wheaties Sports Federation, which encouraged participation in Olympic sports.[5] Richards had four sons who were also pole vaulters: Brandon, held the national high school record at 18'2" for fourteen years from 1985;[6] Tom won the CIF California State Meet in 1988; and Bob Jr. was second in the same meet in 1968[7] and later in 1973 ranked #7 in the United States.[8]
Richards is the only male two-time Olympic gold medal winner in the pole vault (1952 and 1956), thus he is also the only man to have successfully defended his Olympic title. He also won a bronze medal in the pole vault at the 1948 summer games. Russian Yelena Isinbayeva is the only other pole vaulter besides Richards to have won three Olympic medals in the pole vault, which she completed in 2012. Richards placed 13th in the decathlon at the 1956 Olympics.
Richards was ordained in 1946 as a minister in the Church of the Brethren (which led to his being nicknamed the "Vaulting Vicar" or the "Pole Vaulting Parson").[11] As future tennis player Billie Jean King's church minister, Richards inspired King. One day, when King was 13 or 14, Richards asked her, "What are you going to do with your life?" She said: "Reverend, I'm going to be the best tennis player in the world."[12][13] In 1957 the actor Hal Stalmaster played Richards as a teenager in an episode of the ABCanthology seriesCavalcade of America.[14]
Richards died on February 26, 2023, a few days after his 97th birthday.[17][18]
Awards
Richards was inducted as a Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois and awarded the Order of Lincoln (the State's highest honor) by the Governor of Illinois in 2000 in the area of Sports.[19] Richards is referenced in the ESPN30 for 30documentary "Survive and Advance", for the impact he had on former N.C. State coach Jim Valvano. Valvano cites hearing Richards speak when he was a teen and the motivational messages he implored. Richards was inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame in 2009 and was inducted into the Texas Track and Field Coaches Association Hall of Fame (Class of 2017).[20]
^Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. . Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020.
^THE REV. BOB RICHARDS POLE VAULT-DECATHLON (Inducted 1975). USATF
richards, other, people, named, disambiguation, robert, eugene, richards, february, 1926, february, 2023, american, athlete, minister, politician, made, three, olympic, teams, events, 1948, 1952, 1956, summer, olympics, pole, vaulter, decathlete, 1956, gold, m. For other people named Bob Richards see Bob Richards disambiguation Robert Eugene Richards February 20 1926 February 26 2023 was an American athlete minister and politician 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 1 He won gold medals in pole vault in both 1952 and 1956 becoming the only male two time champion in the event in Olympic history Bob RichardsBob Richards in 1951Personal detailsBornRobert Eugene Richards 1926 02 20 February 20 1926Champaign Illinois U S DiedFebruary 26 2023 2023 02 26 aged 97 Political partyPopulist 1984 1996 American Freedom 2010 2023 Alma materUniversity of Illinois at Urbana ChampaignSports careerHeight1 78 m 5 ft 10 in Weight75 kg 165 lb SportPole vault decathlonClubLAAC Los AngelesSports achievements and titlesPersonal best s HJ 1 91 m 1954 PV 4 72 m 1957 LJ 7 09 m 1954 Medal record Men s athleticsRepresenting the United StatesOlympic Games1956 Melbourne Pole vault1952 Helsinki Pole vault1948 London Pole vaultPan American Games1951 Buenos Aires Pole vault1955 Mexico City Pole vault1955 Mexico City DecathlonWhile still an active athlete Richards became an ordained minister He ran for President of the United States in 1984 on the Populist Party ticket While Richards is known for his extraordinary athleticism that led to his appearing for many years on Wheaties cereal boxes and as a result he became the face of that cereal for many years particularly during the 1960s Such recognition is rarely seen during this millennium Contents 1 Athletic career 2 Ministry 3 Political career 4 Death 5 Awards 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksAthletic career EditRichards was the second man to pole vault 15 ft 4 57 m While a student at the University of Illinois Richards tied for the national collegiate pole vault title and followed that with 20 national Amateur Athletic Union AAU titles including 17 in the pole vault and three in the decathlon 2 3 4 The first man to clear 15 feet was Dutch Warmerdam who set the world record of 4 77 m 15 ft 7 3 4 in in 1942 long before Richards came into his prime While Richards was the dominant vaulter of his time he never set a world record Richards later became involved in promoting physical fitness and continued to vault in his later years He was the first athlete to appear on the front of Wheaties cereal boxes in 1958 though not the first depicted on all parts of the packaging and also was the first Wheaties spokesman setting up the Wheaties Sports Federation which encouraged participation in Olympic sports 5 Richards had four sons who were also pole vaulters Brandon held the national high school record at 18 2 for fourteen years from 1985 6 Tom won the CIF California State Meet in 1988 and Bob Jr was second in the same meet in 1968 7 and later in 1973 ranked 7 in the United States 8 Richards is the only male two time Olympic gold medal winner in the pole vault 1952 and 1956 thus he is also the only man to have successfully defended his Olympic title He also won a bronze medal in the pole vault at the 1948 summer games Russian Yelena Isinbayeva is the only other pole vaulter besides Richards to have won three Olympic medals in the pole vault which she completed in 2012 Richards placed 13th in the decathlon at the 1956 Olympics Richards was elected to the U S Olympic Hall of Fame in 1983 and the United States National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1975 9 As he aged Richards continued participating in track and field in a variety of events particularly throwing events He was one of the first regular participants in the origins of what now has become Masters athletics 10 Richards appeared on the panel game show What s My Line episode 346 January 20 1957 citation needed Ministry Edit Richards while running for president Richards was ordained in 1946 as a minister in the Church of the Brethren which led to his being nicknamed the Vaulting Vicar or the Pole Vaulting Parson 11 As future tennis player Billie Jean King s church minister Richards inspired King One day when King was 13 or 14 Richards asked her What are you going to do with your life She said Reverend I m going to be the best tennis player in the world 12 13 In 1957 the actor Hal Stalmaster played Richards as a teenager in an episode of the ABC anthology series Cavalcade of America 14 Political career EditIn the 1984 United States presidential election Richards ran for President of the United States on the far right white nationalist Populist Party ticket 15 16 He and running mate Maureen Salaman earned 66 324 votes Death EditRichards died on February 26 2023 a few days after his 97th birthday 17 18 Awards EditRichards was inducted as a Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois and awarded the Order of Lincoln the State s highest honor by the Governor of Illinois in 2000 in the area of Sports 19 Richards is referenced in the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary Survive and Advance for the impact he had on former N C State coach Jim Valvano Valvano cites hearing Richards speak when he was a teen and the motivational messages he implored Richards was inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame in 2009 and was inducted into the Texas Track and Field Coaches Association Hall of Fame Class of 2017 20 See also EditList of athletes on Wheaties boxesReferences Edit Evans Hilary Gjerde Arild Heijmans Jeroen Mallon Bill et al Bob Richards Olympics at Sports Reference com Sports Reference LLC Archived from the original on April 17 2020 THE REV BOB RICHARDS POLE VAULT DECATHLON Inducted 1975 USATF USA Indoor Track amp Field Champions Men s Pole Vault USATF USA Outdoor Track amp Field Champions Men s Decathlon USATF Wheaties The Breakfast of Champions PDF General Mills Archived from the original PDF on March 20 2009 Retrieved May 20 2009 High School Pole Vault Records polevaultpower com California State Meet Results 1915 to present Hank Lawson Archived from the original on October 6 2014 Retrieved December 25 2012 All Time U S Rankings Men s Pole Vault trackandfieldnews com National Track and Field Hall of Fame USA Track amp Field Retrieved November 4 2010 U S Masters International Track Team Newsletter European Report November 1971 PDF masterhistory org Retrieved November 4 2010 Cope Myron They Cheer When the Parson Is Pitching Sports Illustrated Vault SI com Retrieved August 31 2020 MRS Billie Jean King A FAN AT THE GAME John Leonard The New York Times June 30 1982 Hal Stalmaster Internet Movie Database Retrieved April 16 2011 746 F 2d 656 Populist Party v Herschler OpenJurist Archived from the original on April 16 2015 Retrieved November 4 2010 Willis Carto Bob Richards Olympedia Retrieved February 27 2023 McFadden Robert D February 27 2023 Bob Richards Pole Vaulting Hero of the Cold War Era Dies at 97 The New York Times Laureates by Year The Lincoln Academy of Illinois The Lincoln Academy of Illinois Retrieved February 26 2016 Inductees Name Category Year Archived January 16 2017 at the Wayback Machine TX TF Hall of FameExternal links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bob Richards Bob Richards at World Athletics Bob Richards at the USATF Hall of Fame Bob Richards at Olympics com Bob Richards at Olympic org archived Bob Richards at Olympedia Party political officesNew political party Populist nominee for President of the United States1984 Succeeded byDavid Duke Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bob Richards amp oldid 1143029383, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
