Bob Richards
A charismatic preacher-athlete who soared to become the first man to win two Olympic pole vault golds and later sold Wheaties as a presidential hopeful.
1926–2023 (age 97)·American athlete·Birthday: February 20·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Bob Richards was a figure of almost mythic American mid-century optimism, a man who sold the gospel of vigor from the pulpit and the podium. He combined a minister's zeal with a world-class athlete's discipline, dominating the pole vault in an era when the poles were still made of bamboo and steel. His back-to-back Olympic triumphs in 1952 and 1956 made him a household name, the first to repeat as champion in his event. Capitalizing on his fame as the 'Vaulting Vicar,' his smiling face graced boxes of Wheaties breakfast cereal, making him one of the first athlete-spokesmen. This public platform led him into politics, where he mounted a quixotic campaign for the Presidency in 1984 on the Populist Party ticket. Richards’s legacy is that of a multifaceted pioneer who blurred the lines between sport, faith, and commerce long before it became commonplace.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Bob was born in 1926, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bob Was Born
The biggest hits of 1926
#1 Movie
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
Bob's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1926Born
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1931Started school
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1939Became a teenager
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1942Could drive
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1944Could vote
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1947Turned 21
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1956Turned 30
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1966Turned 40
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1976Turned 50
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1986Turned 60
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 70
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 80
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2023Died at 97
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
Key Achievements
- Won consecutive Olympic gold medals in the pole vault at the 1952 Helsinki and 1956 Melbourne Games.
- Became the first male pole vaulter to win two Olympic gold medals in the event's history.
- Was the first athlete to be featured on the front of a Wheaties cereal box.
- Competed in the decathlon at the 1956 Olympics in addition to the pole vault.
Did You Know?
He was ordained as a minister in the Church of the Brethren.
He ran for President of the United States in 1984 as the nominee of the Populist Party.
He was a vocal advocate for physical fitness and authored several books on the subject.
“You have to have a dream so you can get up in the morning.”
