Chuck Richards - Special Contributor

The president of the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame has lived his dream of bringing sports and fitness to the community many times over.

Chuck Richards was a three-time All-American while at Stadium High School in Tacoma in the early 1960s. Richards won six Washington state championships in freestyle, butterfly and individual medley.

During his senior year, he held seven of the eight individual state records.

After high school, Chuck attended Indiana University, where he was a two-time Collegiate All-American. His specialty was modern pentathlon, a traditional multi-event competition that highlights the multiple duties of a military courier; equestrian, pistol shooting, swimming, fencing and cross country running.

Richards won the Junior Modern Pentathlon Championship in 1967 and become the Modern Pentathlon record holder in the 300-meter swim in 1969.

Richards won three consecutive national championships in modern pentathlon culminating with the Olympic year of 1972.

In Munich, Chuck won the Pentathlon 300-meter swim with
an Olympic and World Record time. He was the highest scoring
American in the ’72 games.

In 1977 he opened what is now known as the Sunset Athletic Club in Cedar Mill, across the street from Sunset High School and has continued to support and advocate for sports, fitness and the Hall of Fame itself. Chucks guidance of the Oregon Sports Academy bingo program has raised thousands of dollars for amateur athletes and club sports in the state of
Oregon over the last 25 years.

Chuck Richards is a shining example of what Olympians do after their time as competitors has passed. They continue to work for the good of sport all who enjoy it.