Bob Richards
Gold Medalist
Monday, February 15, 2016, 7:30 p.m.

A two-time Olympic gold medalist in pole vaulting – and the first person ever to appear on a Wheaties cereal box – will be this year’s speaker at the Hill College Alden J. Blanar Smith Speaker Series on Feb. 15 in the Vara Martin Daniel Performing Arts Center in Hillsboro.

Bob Richards, who resides in Waco, has been an American icon for more than eight decades in the area of track and field. Although he hung up his cleats long ago, he continues to travel around the country as a motivational speaker.

“We are very fortunate to have Bob Richards come and speak at our college,” Hill College President Dr. Pam Boehm said. “He is the definition of a true American athlete.”

Richards has delivered over 12,000 speeches spanning the past 50 years, and he has spoken to more than seven million high school students.

Although there is no cost to attend the Feb. 15 Alden J. Blanar Smith Speaker Series, seating is limited in the Performing Arts Center. Richards will begin speaking at 7:30 p.m. and a reception is scheduled at the conclusion of the Series.

Previous speakers in the Series have included former Congressman Chet Edwards, Baylor University President Judge Kenneth Winston Starr, U.S. Astronaut Story Musgrave, and Eric Nadel – the voice of the Texas Rangers.

ABOUT BOB RICHARDS
- Three-time Olympic pole vaulter (1948 – bronze medal; 1952 – gold medal; and 1956 – gold medal)

- Member of 100 Golden Olympians Team (1996)

- Spokesperson for Wheaties/General Mills (1958-72)

- National Indoor/Outdoor Champion 27 times

- Physical Fitness Leader/Bob Richards Fitness Crusade (1970)

- World Master Track and Field Champion (1983-91)

- U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Inductee (1983)

- U.S. Track and Field Hall of Fame Inductee (1970)

- National Track and Field Hall of Fame Inductee (1970)

…and much more