Dudley Richards

Dudley Richards
Dudley Richards is pictured on February 14, 1961 before boarding Sabena Flight 548 at Idlewild Airport in New York City.
BornDudley Shaw Richards
(1932-02-04)February 4, 1932
Providence, Rhode Island, United States
DiedFebruary 15, 1961(1961-02-15) (aged 29)
Berg-Kampenhout,
Flemish Brabant, Belgium
Height5’10”
Figure skating career
CountryUnited States
PartnerMaribel Y. Owen
CoachMaribel Vinson
Skating clubSC of Boston
Medal record
Representing United States
Pairs' Figure skating
North American Championships
1961 PhiladelphiaPairs

Dudley "Dud" Shaw Richards (February 4, 1932 – February 15, 1961) was an American figure skater who competed in men's singles and pairs. In singles, he won the bronze medal at the 1953 United States Figure Skating Championships and finished sixth at that year's World Figure Skating Championships. 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. In 1961, Owen and Richards won the gold medal at the U.S. Championships and finished second at the North American Figure Skating Championships.

As a skater, Richards was described as handsome, elegant and charismatic. At the time, ice skating had associations with wealth and privilege and male figure skaters wore formal attire and were seen as ballroom dancers on ice. Handsome Richards personified this ideal.