In pairs, he once skated with future Olympic gold medalist Tenley Albright, before later teaming up with Maribel Owen.

After winning the bronze medal at Nationals in 1958 and 1959, the pair captured the silver in 1960 and finished tenth at that year's Winter Olympic Games.

Away from the ice, Richards was a graduate of Harvard University and had spent time in the Army.

He was also a real estate executive and a longtime friend (and college roommate) of future Senator Ted Kennedy.

Richards was en route to the World Championships in 1961 when the plane he was on, Sabena Flight 548, crashed near Brussels, Belgium, killing all on board including the entire U.S. figure skating team.