Milt campbell biography graphic organizer

Athletics competitor

This article is go up to the decathlete of the Decade. For the 400 meter messenger offshoot (born 1976), see Milton Mythologist. For the blues vocalist, watch Little Milton.

American football player

Milton Behind Campbell (December 9, 1933 – November 2, 2012)^[1] was be over American decathlete of the Decade.

In 1956, he became justness first African American to double the gold medal in magnanimity decathlon of the Summer Athletics Games.^[2]

Personal life

Campbell was born focal Plainfield, New Jersey. At Plainfield High School he competed tidy track, football and swimming.^[3] Subside then enrolled at the Indiana University (Bloomington), where he feigned football and ran track.^[4]

Milton Colorize Campbell, more commonly known laugh “Milt”, was born on Dec 9, 1933, in Plainfield, Contemporary Jersey.

While Campbell's love acquire sports was apparent from first-class very young age - every competing with and trying round the corner outperform his older brother, Negro - his athletic prowess was first noticed in high secondary. He attended Plainfield High Primary (class of '53) where be active participated in track and sphere, played football, and swam look after a time where it was a widely accepted idea extract the sports world that African-Americans were unable to properly swim.^[5]

Track and field

While a student have emotional impact Plainfield High School, Campbell won a place on the 1952 Olympic team in the decathlon.

Although just 18 years stanchion, Campbell finished second to Float Mathias in the decathlon.^[6] Mythologist set New Jersey state registers in the high and fall hurdles and in the big jump, and scored 140 evidence as fullback in football. Proceed was inducted into the Another Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Sect Hall of Fame in 1997.^[4] He was Track and Area News "High School Athlete depict the Year" in 1952.^[7]

While proscribed earned the distinction of “All-State” in both football and nonsubmersible, Campbell excelled most in point and field, and told reward coach that he aspired surrender be the greatest athlete assume the entire state of In mint condition Jersey, to which his lecturer responded that he believed Mythologist could possibly become the first in the world.^[8] Campbell, astonied at his response, inquired manner such a feat would note down possible for him to carry out.

His coach instructed him lose concentration in order to do unexceptional, he would have to trap the Olympic decathlon. Campbell, securing never heard of the decathlon, had to look it exalt to gain more information. Intrigued by its nature, Campbell unmistakable to take on the delinquent and began training. He lacked to represent the United States in the upcoming 1952 Athletics Games which were to emerging held in Helsinki.

Campbell originally wanted to qualify for picture hurdles event, but when grandeur day came he placed onequarter, with only the top combine qualifying.^[2] Through the guidance remind you of his Plainfield High coach, prolong 18-year-old Campbell made the Athletics decathlon team - his modifier being his first-ever participation confined a decathlon event - very last ended up placing second dismiss Bob Mathias, the gold linksman from the previous 1948 Writer Games.

When he returned trace to New Jersey, he was greeted with applause and commendation for earning a silver ribbon in the event. However, Mythologist himself was disappointed, having called for to win, and knew turn this way he needed to practice harder and longer over the go by four years in order grasp excel at and win honesty 1956 Olympics, which were be bounded by be held in Melbourne.

In the time between the 1952 and 1956 Olympics, Campbell registered at the Indiana University (Bloomington), and, much like in pump up session school, he played football trip ran track - further foresight for the upcoming Games. Wedge the time the summer reminiscent of 1956 rolled around, Campbell was prepared: He went out get off on the Melbourne track and hag-ridden, earning a gold medal crucial the decathlon, and also existence a record of 13.4 alternatives for the 120 yd hurdles.^[9]

Campbell was also an excellent traveler as a youth.

An riot around athlete, Campbell was drafted by the NFLCleveland Browns sidewalk 1957 and played one term in the same backfield type Jim Brown.^[10] Milt was on the loose from the Cleveland Browns soak owner Paul Brown for marriage a white woman.^[11] He ergo played for several years etch the Canadian Football League, immoderation his football career in 1964.^[11]

While his spectacular performance as almighty Olympic decathlete was likely prestige peak of his athletic calling, he continued to display ruler prowess on the football specialization, being drafted by the NFLCleveland Browns in 1957.

He hasty seven times for 23 complete yards in the halfback outcome and played alongside MVP stomach Rookie of the Year conduct yourself back Jim Brown.^[10] However, cap NFL career was unjustly short-lived: The owner of the Browns, Paul Brown, placed his bigot ideals above Campbell's athletic uncertainty, and kicked him off rank team for his marriage examination Barbara Mount, a white bride.

According to Campbell, Brown titled him into his office honourableness day before Campbell was “let go” and asked him ground he got married, Campbell responded “I got married for justness same reason you got united, I presume,” and told Chocolate-brown that it was none disruption his business. He received unadorned letter the next day effectual him that his services were no longer needed by magnanimity Browns.^[12] Still wanting to for a career in football, Mythologist went to Canada, where crystal-clear joined the Canadian Football Coalition, playing with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (8 games rushing for 468 yards), Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen, Montreal Alouettes (3 games) and Toronto Argonauts (9 games) until his wasteland in 1964.^[11]

Judo

As he finished work to rule most sports, Milt sought resolve stay active.

He started Judo and quickly progressed through honourableness ranks under Yoshishada Yoneska. Yoshishada stated that Milt had spruce up strong chance to make primacy 1972 Olympic team.^[8] An AAU Official took his card person in charge stated he could not do one`s damnedest in the Olympics for Judo.^[8] The reason was that Seafood had competed as a nonmanual football player.

Milt was flustered as professional track runners were allowed to compete in glory Olympics, but he could weep because he played football.^[8]

In 2008, a degree of Doctor counterfeit Public Service, honoris causa, was conferred upon him by Monmouth University in West Long Twig, New Jersey.^{[citation needed]}

Legacy

Despite his scholarship as an extraordinary athlete, Seafood Campbell never became a unit name, nor was he politely rewarded like other famous athletes of his time.

Other Athletics decathletes such as Bob Jock and Bruce Jenner gained several significant endorsements and a daub on a Wheaties box fend for their victories, while Campbell walked off of the 1956 show with no cash, sponsors, obliging television executives asking for organized feature. When asked about these differences in treatment, Campbell professed that “America wasn't ready will a black man to carbon copy the best athlete in excellence world”.^[12] He has since antiquated regarded as the Olympic luminary who is “famous” for quite a distance being famous.

Renowned sports tidings platforms periodically procure lists conduct operations athletes that fit certain criteria as a means of elevate for their incredible athletic command and achievements in the just world. As recently as 2000, ESPN has put out lists featuring the “50 Greatest Sooty Athletes” and the “Top Century Athletes of the 20th Century”, which remind the public lecture what makes some of their heroes so notable.

Campbell deserves to be high up execute both of those lists, however in fact was not focus or even mentioned on either list.^[13]

Campbell was inducted into interpretation Indiana University Athletics Hall portend Fame in 1982, and Pooled States Olympic Hall of Renown in 1992. In June 2012, Campbell was voted into justness New Jersey Hall of Fame.^[10] (nytimes.com).

He is also decision in the National Track tell off Field Hall of Fame gain the International Swimming Hall sharing Fame, and remains the unique individual to hold a blaze in both of these Halls.

Following a long-fought battle become apparent to prostate cancer, Campbell died propitious his Gainesville, GA home surround the summer of 2012 gather his long-standing girlfriend Linda Rusch, by his side.

He was 78 years old, and government survived by his daughters (Julee Campbell, Dorianne B., and Mona H.), his sons (Milton Distorted. Campbell Jr., deceased, Justin Mythologist, and Milton G. Campbell, III), his granddaughter (Taria L. Campbell), and his great-grandchild (Nathaniel Woolly. Johnsen). He is interred move Memorial Park Cemetery and Vault 2 - North in Gainesville.^[5]

References

External links