High Flyer

"Great day in the morning!" cried the parson. The Rev. Robert Richards, associate professor of comparative theology at California's little (enrollment: 300) La Verne College, had good reason to use strong words. He had just learned that the Amateur Athletic Union had picked him as the outstanding amateur U.S. sportsman of 1951, and winner of its James E. Sullivan Memorial Trophy. Seldom, since the first award was made in 1930, had the trophy gone to a more exemplary athlete.

Bob Richards, 25, is the world's best pole-vaulter. Under his own power, at least, he has soared closer to heaven (15 ft. 4 3/4 in.) than any other divine in history. He now hopes to clear a crossbar set at 16 ft., which is 4 1/4 in. higher than the world record mark made in 1942 by fabulous Cornelius Warmerdam, the only 15-ft. vaulter on the books until Richards made it a year ago. Bob is also as strictly amateur as an athlete can be. With rock-ribbed integrity, he turns down all offers of "help" from meet promoters.

A Decathlon Natural. With his 50th straight victory last Dec. 30 in New Orleans' Sugar Bowl meet, vaulting Bob has practically nailed down a spot on the U.S. Olympic team for this summer's games in Helsinki--and not on his aerial prowess alone. Last May he gave a talk at Pasadena's John Muir College (subject: Christianity and athletics), dropped in two days later to enter a decathlon on the invitation of Muir's track coach. In the field events Richards turned out to be a natural, despite his lack of brawn (5 ft. 10 in., 163 Ibs.). Two months later he won the National A.A.U. decathlon title, with a score of 7,834 points, fourth best on record. In this Olympic event, Parson Richards will rate second only to Stanford's mighty Bob Mathias, the world record holder (8,042 points). Richards' self-set decathlon goal is 8,400 points*--"with the help of God."

Parson Richards has not always relied on the Lord so strongly. In his sermons he recalls his boyhood in Champaign, Ill., when he wanted to become a boxer, loved violence and "was headed for juvenile delinquency." Luckily for him and the U.S. Olympic team, at 16 he fell for a girl who "wanted a Christian boy friend." After he was named second-team all-state quarterback and steered Champaign High School to the Illinois football championship, he spent 2 1/2 years at Bridgewater College, a Church of the Brethren school in Virginia. Ordained a Brethren minister in 1946, he got married to another girl, now has two children, Carol Anne, 3, and Bobby, 21 months.

No Hiding Demon. On a University of Illinois scholarship, Bob picked up a master's degree in philosophy, meanwhile began competing under the colors of Chicago's Illinois Athletic Club, and has loyally done so ever since, even though he now lives in California.

As usual, Bob thanked the Lord when he got the Sullivan Trophy. But lest someone regard him as stuffily sanctimonious, he added: "I don't imply that God is any metaphysical demon hiding behind the nearest cloud, waiting to clutch at me and lift me over the crossbar ... I mean psychological influence, which He exerts over all those who can search their souls and find there the strength to perform wonderful things."

*Hypothetical perfect score: 10,000 points.

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