[1] He won gold medals in pole vault in both 1952 and 1956, becoming the first male two-time champion in the event in Olympic history (a feat only equalled in 2024 by Armand Duplantis).

[2][3][4] The first man to clear 15 feet was Dutch Warmerdam, who set the world record of 4.77 m (15 ft 7+3⁄4 in) in 1942, long before Richards came into his prime.

[5] Richards had four sons who were also pole vaulters: Brandon, held the national high school record at 18'2" for fourteen years from 1985;[6] Tom won the CIF California State Meet in 1988; and Bob Jr. was second in the same meet in 1968[7] and later in 1973 ranked #7 in the United States.

[8] Richards was the only male two-time Olympic gold medal winner in the pole vault (1952 and 1956), until Armando Duplantis of Sweden matched that same feat (2021 and 2024).

"[12][13] In 1957 the actor Hal Stalmaster played Richards as a teenager in an episode of the ABC anthology series Cavalcade of America.

Richards met his first wife, Mary Leah Cline, at Bethany Biblical Seminary in 1946.

[20] Richards is referenced in the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary "Survive and Advance", for the impact he had on former N.C. State coach Jim Valvano.

Valvano cites hearing Richards speak when he was a teen and the motivational messages he implored.