Richard Gale Rifenburg (August 21, 1926 – December 5, 1994) was an American football player and a pioneering television broadcaster for the forerunner to WIVB-TV in Buffalo.

He hosted various television and radio sports shows and was eventually inducted into the Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

He had also been a Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) state champion in both basketball and track and field.

Rifenburg was a star athlete at Saginaw's Arthur Hill High School in football, basketball, and track and field.

In 1943, Michigan canceled boys high school tournaments in all sports due to World War II, and they did not return until the fall of 1944.

Every so often a great offensive end comes along, a player who has to learn how to play defense, but who has the natural speed, smooth actions, height and big hands that is the mark of an outstanding pass receiver.

In an article titled "Teens and TNT," Time reported on Rifenburg's performance: "Of the few teams already in action, Michigan's teens rang the freshman bell loudest last week by winning their opener, 12 -to-7, against the strong Iowa Seahawks (Naval Pre-Flight); 6-ft. 4 Freshman End Dick Rifenburg caught passes and ran for both Michigan touchdowns.

"[8] Rifenburg's college career was interrupted by World War II service in the United States Navy,[6] but after missing the 1945 season, he returned to play for the Wolverines from 1946 to 1948.

[12] In the January 1, 1948 Rose Bowl that season, Michigan rolled to a 49–0 victory over USC,[13] and they outgained the Trojans 491 yards to 133.

[18] By comparison, Notre Dame end Leon Hart won the Heisman Trophy in 1949 but made only eight of the 11 All-American teams.

In the Associated Press poll at the end of the 1947 season, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish were ranked ahead of the University of Michigan, though both teams were undefeated.

Some noted that every Southern AP voter had voted for Notre Dame, which had yet to integrate, whereas three of Michigan's star players (Bob Mann, Gene Derricotte, and Len Ford) were African-American.

[22] He had intended to play in 1949 with the Yankees, but suffered a knee injury in a practice session for the August 1949 Chicago College All-Star Game.

In the 1950s, Rifenburg hosted a popular panel show called "Let's Talk Sports" in Buffalo and also pioneered an early morning exercise program.

[6] In the 1980s, Rifenburg taught communications at Buffalo's Medaille College and served as a disc jockey on Public Broadcasting's radio station WEBR (now WDCZ).

In her acceptance speech, Jane Rifenburg observed that despite all of her late husband's achievements, there was one thing he had never received: "He had a great career, but he never had a trophy.