Robert Whitla Richards (July 9, 1909 – May 19, 1989) was a Canadian rower who competed in the

1930 British Empire Games The 1930 British Empire Games were the inaugural edition of what now is known as the Commonwealth Games, and were held in Hamilton, Ontario, from 16 to 23 August 1930. The games were organized by ''Hamilton Spectator'' sportswriter Bobby Robinso ...

, where he won a gold medal alongside his cousin Elswood Bole. A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Richards won the Canadian national championships in the double sculls six times between 1928 and 1950, but missed qualifying for the Summer Olympics in 1932. He also had a term as president of his Winnipeg Rowing Club. By career he was a stockbroker and he served in the Canadian Army during World War II. He was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 1988.

Early life

Richards was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on July 9, 1909. In addition to rowing, he was athletically involved in cross-country skiing, golfing, ice hockey, sailing, and squash. In 1926 he began a career as a stockbroker and, during World War II, he served in the Canadian Army, eventually reaching the rank of

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

Rowing career

Richards took up rowing in the 1920s with the Winnipeg Rowing Club and won his first Canadian national championship in the double sculls in 1928, alongside his cousin Elswood Bole. They defended their crown the following year and were selected to represent Canada at the

, where they captured a gold medal. They also won the Northwestern International Rowing Association's doubles titles that year in

Kenora Kenora (), previously named Rat Portage (french: Portage-aux-Rats), is a city situated on the Lake of the Woods in Ontario, Canada, close to the Manitoba boundary, and about east of Winnipeg by road. It is the seat of Kenora District. The his ...

, Ontario. Richards had his first international success as a single sculler in 1931, when he won the Northwestern title in that category in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He then attempted to qualify for the double sculls event at the

1932 Summer Olympics The 1932 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the X Olympiad and also known as Los Angeles 1932) were an international multi-sport event held from July 30 to August 14, 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. The Games were held duri ...

with Theo Dubois, but they were defeated in the trials by

Noël de Mille Noël James de Mille (29 November 1909 – 6 March 1995) was a Canadian rower who competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics The 1932 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the X Olympiad and also known as Los Angeles 1932) were an interna ...

and

Ned Pratt Ned Pratt (born 1964) is a Canadian photographer based in St. John's, Newfoundland. Pratt grew up in the community of St. Catherine's in St. Mary's Bay, Newfoundland. In 1986 he graduated with a BA in Art History from Acadia University then move ...

of the Vancouver Rowing Club. In 1933 Richards and Bole won the doubles at the Northwestern regatta in Saint Paul, Minnesota Prior to his career being interrupted by World War II, Richards won the national doubles title again in 1935. Richards' first post-war competition came as the stroke of a Canadian eights crew in an inter-services regatta in September 1945. Soon after, he began serving as president of the Winnipeg Rowing Club. He won the national doubles titles three more times, in 1947, 1948, and 1950, before retiring after the latter victory.

Later life

During his career as a stockbroker, Richards served as a manager of Richardson's Securities from 1958 until his retirement in 1974. He also served as head of the Winnipeg Stock Exchange and the Lake of the Woods Yacht Club and was board chairman of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. In November 1988 he was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. He died on May 19, 1989 at Winnipeg's Heath Sciences Centre. The R. W. Richards Society, which recognizes the top achievers at Richardson's Securities, was named in his honor.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Richards, Bob 1909 births 1989 deaths Canadian male rowers Rowers at the 1930 British Empire Games Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Canada Commonwealth Games medallists in rowing Rowers from Winnipeg Canadian military personnel of World War II Medallists at the 1930 British Empire Games