Bob Richards facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bob Richards
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Bob Richards in 1951
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Robert Eugene Richards
February 20, 1926 Champaign, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Died | February 26, 2023 (aged 97) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Populist (1984–1996) American Freedom (2010–2023) |
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| Alma mater | University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Robert "Bob" Eugene Richards (born February 20, 1926 – died February 26, 2023) was an amazing American athlete. He was also a minister and a politician. Bob Richards was famous for his skills in pole vaulting. He was part of three U.S. Olympic Teams. He competed in the 1948, 1952, and 1956 Summer Olympics.
He won gold medals in pole vault in both 1952 and 1956. This made him the only male athlete to win two gold medals in this event at the Olympics. While he was still competing, Richards also became an ordained minister. Later in life, he ran for President of the United States in 1984. He was also well-known for appearing on Wheaties cereal boxes for many years.
Athletic Career
Bob Richards was a top athlete, especially in pole vaulting. He was the second person ever to clear 15 feet (4.57 meters) in the pole vault. While studying at the University of Illinois, he won a national college pole vault title.
He went on to win 20 national titles from the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). Seventeen of these were in pole vault and three in the decathlon. Even though he was the best pole vaulter of his time, he never set a world record.
Richards was the first athlete to be featured on the front of Wheaties cereal boxes in 1958. He also became the first spokesperson for Wheaties. He helped start the Wheaties Sports Federation. This group encouraged people to join in Olympic sports.
Bob Richards had four sons who also became pole vaulters. His son Brandon held the national high school record for 14 years. Tom won the CIF California State Meet in 1988. Bob Jr. placed second in the same meet in 1968.
Richards is the only man to win two Olympic gold medals in the pole vault. He won in 1952 and 1956. This means he successfully defended his Olympic title. He also won a bronze medal in pole vault at the 1948 Olympics.
He was elected to the United States Olympic Hall of Fame in 1983. He also joined the United States National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1975. As he got older, Richards kept participating in track and field events. He was one of the first people to take part in what is now called Masters athletics. This is where older athletes compete.
Richards appeared on a TV game show called What's My Line? in 1957.
Ministry
In 1946, Bob Richards became a minister in the Church of the Brethren. Because of this, people sometimes called him the "Vaulting Vicar" or the "Pole Vaulting Parson."
He was a big inspiration to many people. One day, he asked future tennis star Billie Jean King what she wanted to do with her life. She told him she wanted to be the best tennis player in the world. In 1957, an actor named Hal Stalmaster played a young Bob Richards in a TV show.
Political Career
In 1984, Bob Richards ran for President of the United States. He ran with the Populist Party. He and his running mate, Maureen Salaman, received 66,324 votes.
Death
Bob Richards passed away on February 26, 2023. He died a few days after his 97th birthday.
Awards
Bob Richards received many honors for his achievements. In 2000, he was given the Order of Lincoln. This is the highest honor in Illinois, awarded by the Governor.
He is also mentioned in an ESPN documentary called "Survive and Advance." In the film, former N.C. State basketball coach Jim Valvano talks about how Richards inspired him as a teenager. Valvano remembered Richards's powerful motivational messages.
Richards was inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame in 2009. He also joined the Texas Track and Field Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2017.
See also
In Spanish: Bob Richards (atleta) para niños
