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 the first champion on the front of the Wheaties box, died Sunday. He was 97.
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, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. He was 97.
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. “The family that plays and prays together stays together,” Richards intoned on countless occasions. 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. He had been a pastor in California only briefly, but the dual image of minister and champion athlete was irresistible on the speaking circuit.
His autobiography, “Heart of a Champion,” was published in 1959. 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 retired to a ranch in Waco, where he owned a golf course.
In 1946, he was ordained and transferred to the University of Illinois. He earned a bachelor’s degree in 1947 and a master’s in 1948.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
2-time Olympic pole vault champion Bob Richards dies at 97Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, died Sunday. He was 97.
Read more »
2-time Olympic pole vault champion Bob Richards dies at 97Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, has died at 97 years old.
Read more »
Kyle Richards calls out Melissa Gorga for assuming she was taking OzempicThe reality star has found herself constantly defending her hot bod after fans shared their disbelief she got it by only working out and eating healthier.
Read more »
Kyle Richards Reacts to Melissa Gorga Speculating She's on OzempicKyle Richards addressed Melissa Gorga’s previous comments about her allegedly taking Ozempic to slim down — details
Read more »
Philly native Asim Richards’ position switch after high school is paying dividends for his NFL futureRichards will get to show his versatility at the NFL scouting combine, where a strong performance could boost the draft stock for the former Haverford School standout.
Read more »
Bob Baffert moves his top Kentucky Derby horses to former assistant Tim YakteenArabian Knight, the odds favorite to win the Kentucky Derby, is among horses Bob Baffert moved to Tim Yakteen so they can earn Derby qualifying points.
Read more »