Background
Richards was the son of Robert William Richards Senior and Hannah Sarah Richards.
Richards was the son of Robert William Richards Senior and Hannah Sarah Richards.
Robert graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He was president of his class and a member of Alpha Alpha Fraternity. He was a four-year letterman in Track and Field and football.
Robert"s brother David also played on the 1909 and 1910 teams.
Robert returned to Pitt to help with subsequent teams after 1910. He was an active alumnus, participating in dinners and events.
He was the captain and fullback of the undefeated and unscored-upon team in the history of the University of Pittsburgh. Robert Senior, an American of Welsh descent, was a traveling bookseller in the Pacific Rim in the 1880s, when he met a Melbourne school teacher, Hannah Sarah Harrex. Robert Junior. born was in Melbourne, Australia.
He had three younger siblings: David John, Harry Charles and Ethlyn Ruth.
Harry and Ethlyn died as children in Australia. Robert Senior, Hannah, Robert and David immigrated to United States. in 1901 and settled in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania Robert was a good student and a 1905 graduate of Wilkinsburg High School.
His mother Hannah was Head of Household for Andrew Mellon, future United States Secretary of the Treasury, and his family. Foreign a time, Robert and David also worked for the Mellon family as bodyguards.
University of Pittsburgh Football Seasons 1908-1910 1908 11 Wins/1 Loss Points for Pitt 140/Points for Opponents 36 Total Touchdowns: 16 "Tex" Touchdowns: 6 1909 6 Wins/2 Losses/1 Tie Points for Pitt 94/Points for Opponents 11 Total Touchdowns: 15 "Tex" Touchdowns: 7 1910 9 Wins/0 Losses Points for Pitt 282/Points for Opponents 0 Total Touchdowns: 42 "Tex" Touchdowns: 13 reported by press
11 reported by The Owl University of Pittsburgh Yearbook 1908-1910 26 Wins/3 Losses/1 Tie Points for Pitt 516/Points for Opponents 47 Total Touchdowns: 73 "Tex" Touchdowns: 26 reported by press 24 reported by The Owl University of Pittsburgh Yearbook "Tex" Touchdown Percentage: 35.6% based on press coverage. 32.8% based on The Owl University of Pittsburgh Yearbook.
He was president of his class and a member of Alpha Alpha Fraternity.