Richter was a nine-time letterman at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (the last person to earn such a distinction in school history). He lettered three times each in football, basketball, and baseball. He earned All-America (1961–62) and academic All-America (1962) honors as a tight end, led the Big Ten in receiving twice, and led the nation in receiving yards as a junior. Richter set a Rose Bowl record with 11 catches for 163 yards in the 1963 game vs. No. 1-rated USCTrojans. He also earned all-league honors in baseball as a first baseman. In 1963, he was awarded the Big Ten Medal of Honor, which recognizes one student from the graduating class of each Big Ten member school, for demonstrating joint athletic and academic excellence throughout their college career.[1]
Richter returned to the University of Wisconsin–Madison as athletic director in 1989 after 17 years service as Vice President of Personnel at Oscar Mayer Foods Corp., recruited by then-chancellor Donna Shalala. He inherited a program in disarray, with outmoded facilities, struggling teams, and a deficit of $2.1 million.
He made a priority of modernizing the sports facilities, including construction of the Kohl Center and renovations to Camp Randall Stadium. He reversed the financial fortunes of the department, erasing the deficit and building a budget reserve of $6.4 million.[2]
When he stepped down as athletic director on April 1, 2004, he was the longest-tenured director of athletics in the Big Ten Conference with 14-plus years. He was succeeded by Alvarez.
The University of Wisconsin–Madison twice honored Richter during the 2006 football season. On November 4, his number 88 was retired in a ceremony during that day's football game. On November 17 a bronze statue of Richter was unveiled in the Kellner Hall plaza immediately outside Camp Randall Stadium.[4]
