Dudley Richards

Dudley Richards
Born	Dudley Shaw Richards (1932-02-04)February 4, 1932 Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Died	February 15, 1961(1961-02-15) (aged 29) Berg-Kampenhout, Flemish Brabant, Belgium
Figure skating career
Country	United States
Partner	Maribel Y. Owen (former)
Skating club	SC of Boston
Medal record Representing United States Pairs' Figure skating North American Championships 1961 Philadelphia Pairs

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.

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. He was 29 at the time of his death.