View source for Milt Campbell

{{short description|Athletics competitor}}
{{about|the decathlete of the 1950s|the 400 meter runner (born 1976)|Milton Campbell|the blues vocalist|Little Milton}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Milt Campbell 
| number      = 48, 84, 86, 31, 78
| position    = [[Fullback (gridiron football)|Fullback]]
| birth_date  = {{Birth date|1933|12|9}}
| birth_place = [[Plainfield, New Jersey]], U.S.
| death_date  = {{death date and age|2012|11|2|1933|12|9}}
| death_place = [[Gainesville, Georgia]], U.S.
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 3
| weight_lb   = 217
| high_school = [[Plainfield High School (New Jersey)|Plainfield]]
| college     = [[Indiana Hoosiers football|Indiana]]
| draftyear   = 1957
| draftround  = 5
| draftpick   = 53
| pastteams   =
* [[Cleveland Browns]] ({{NFL Year|1957}})
* [[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]] ({{CFL Year|1958}}) 
* [[Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen (football)|Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen]] ({{CFL Year|1959}})
* [[Montreal Alouettes]] (1959)
* [[Toronto Argonauts]] ({{CFL Year|1961}}, {{CFL Year|1964}})
| statlabel1  = Rushing yards
| statvalue1  = 23
| statlabel2  = Rushing average
| statvalue2  = 3.3
| statlabel3  = [[Reception (gridiron football)|Reception]]s
| statvalue3  = 1
| statlabel4  = Receiving yards
| statvalue4  = 25
| statlabel5  = Total [[touchdown]]s
| statvalue5  = 1
| pfr         = CampMi20 
}}
{{MedalTableTop|name=no}}
{{MedalSport | Men's [[athletics (sport)|athletics]] }}
{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Athletics at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[1956 Summer Olympics|1956 Melbourne]] | [[Athletics at the 1956 Summer Olympics|Decathlon]] }}
{{MedalSilver | [[1952 Summer Olympics|1952 Helsinki]] | [[Athletics at the 1952 Summer Olympics|Decathlon]] }}
{{MedalBottom}}

'''Milton Gray Campbell''' (December 9, 1933 – November 2, 2012)<ref>{{Cite web |first=Jim |last=Lambert |date=November 3, 2012 |url=http://www.nj.com/hssports/blog/boyscrosscountry/index.ssf/2012/11/legendary_track_star_milt_campbell_named_the_star-ledger_athlete_of_the_century_in_2000_has_passed_a.html |title=Milt Campbell, the greatest athlete in New Jersey history, dies at 78 |work=NJ Advance Media for NJ.com |access-date=November 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190127095324/https://www.nj.com/hssports/blog/boyscrosscountry/index.ssf/2012/11/legendary_track_star_milt_campbell_named_the_star-ledger_athlete_of_the_century_in_2000_has_passed_a.html |archive-date=January 27, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> was an American decathlete of the 1950s. In 1956, he became the first [[African Americans|African American]] to win the gold medal in the [[decathlon]] of the [[Summer Olympic Games]].<ref name="Olympian Milt Campbell dies">[https://www.espn.com/olympics/trackandfield/story/_/id/8590886/milt-campbell-first-black-olympic-decathlon-winner-dies "Olympian Milt Campbell dies"], [[ESPN|ESPN.go.com]], November 4, 2012. Accessed July 28, 2015.</ref>

==Personal life==
Campbell was born in [[Plainfield, New Jersey]].  At [[Plainfield High School (New Jersey)|Plainfield High School]] he competed in track, football and swimming.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1953/02/28/archives/campbell-captures-two-newark-events.html "CAMPBELL CAPTURES TWO NEWARK EVENTS"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', February 28, 1953. Accessed November 6, 2007. "Milt Campbell, Plainfield High School star, won the first two events in the twenty-ninth Newark Athletic Club track and field championships today."</ref> He then enrolled at the Indiana University (Bloomington), where he played football and ran track.<ref name=NJSIAAHallOfFame/>

Milton Gray Campbell, more commonly known as “Milt”, was born on December 9, 1933, in [[Plainfield, New Jersey]]. While Campbell's love for sports was apparent from a very young age - always competing with and trying to outperform his older brother, Tom - his athletic prowess was first noticed in high school. He attended [[Plainfield High School (New Jersey)|Plainfield High School]] (class of '53) where he participated in track and field, played football, and swam at a time where it was a widely accepted idea in the sports world that African-Americans were unable to properly swim.<ref name="nytimes.com">[https://www.nytimes.com/1953/02/28/archives/campbell-captures-two-newark-events.html "CAMPBELL CAPTURES TWO NEWARK EVENTS"] 2008, ''[[The New York Times]]'', February 28, 1953. Accessed November 6, 2007.</ref>

==Track and field==
While a student at Plainfield High School, Campbell won a place on the 1952 Olympic team in the [[decathlon]]. Although just 18 years old, Campbell finished second to [[Bob Mathias]] in the decathlon.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Richard |last=Hymans |year=2008 |url=https://www.usatf.org/statistics/champions/OlympicTrials/HistoryOfTheOlympicTrials.pdf |title=The History of the United States Olympic Trials |publisher=[[USA Track & Field]] |access-date=March 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929174254/http://www.usatf.org/statistics/champions/OlympicTrials/HistoryOfTheOlympicTrials.pdf |archive-date=September 29, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Campbell set New Jersey state records in the high and low hurdles and in the high jump, and scored 140 points as fullback in football. He was inducted into the [[New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association]] Hall of Fame in 1997.<ref name=NJSIAAHallOfFame>[http://www.njsiaa.org/NJSIAA/HOF_years.aspx Hall of Fame / Class of 1997] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070521193256/http://www.njsiaa.org/NJSIAA/HOF_years.aspx |date=May 21, 2007 }}, [[New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association]]. Accessed August 26, 2008.</ref>  He was ''[[Track & Field News|Track and Field News]]'' "High School Athlete of the Year" in 1952.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/component/content/article/35-stats/2114-t-fn-boys-hs-aoy |title=T&FN HIGH SCHOOL BOYS ATHLETES OF THE YEAR |website=trackandfieldnews.com |access-date=November 24, 2015 |quote=1952 - Milt Campbell (Plainfield, New Jersey) - hurdles/decathlon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818132720/http://trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/component/content/article/35-stats/2114-t-fn-boys-hs-aoy |archive-date=August 18, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

While he earned the distinction of “All-State” in both football and swimming, Campbell excelled most in track and field, and told his coach that he aspired to be the greatest athlete in the entire state of New Jersey, to which his coach responded that he believed Campbell could possibly become the best in the world.<ref name="blackathlete.net">{{cite web |url=http://blackathlete.net/2005/11/the-greatest-and-most-forgotten/ |title=The Greatest and Most Forgotten |website=BlackAthlete.net |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220014154/http://blackathlete.net/2005/11/the-greatest-and-most-forgotten/ |archive-date=February 20, 2015 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> Campbell, surprised at his response, inquired how such a feat would be possible for him to achieve. His coach instructed him that in order to do so, he would have to win the Olympic decathlon. Campbell, having never heard of the decathlon, had to look it up to gain more information. Intrigued by its nature, Campbell decided to take on the challenge and began training. He wanted to represent the United States in the upcoming 1952 Olympic Games which were to be held in Helsinki. Campbell initially wanted to qualify for the hurdles event, but when the day came he placed fourth, with only the top three qualifying.<ref name="Olympian Milt Campbell dies"/> Through the guidance of his Plainfield High coach, an 18-year-old Campbell made the Olympic decathlon team - his qualifier being his first-ever participation in a decathlon event - and ended up placing second behind Bob Mathias, the gold medalist from the previous 1948 London Games. When he returned home to New Jersey, he was greeted with applause and congratulations for earning a silver medal in the event. However, Campbell himself was disappointed, having wanted to win, and knew that he needed to practice harder and longer over the next four years in order to excel at and win the 1956 Olympics, which were to be held in Melbourne.

In the time between the 1952 and 1956 Olympics, Campbell enrolled at the Indiana University (Bloomington), and, much like in high school, he played football and ran track - further preparing for the upcoming Games. By the time the summer of 1956 rolled around, Campbell was prepared: He went out onto the Melbourne track and dominated, earning a gold medal in the decathlon, and also setting a record of 13.4 seconds for the 120 yd hurdles.<ref name="sports-reference.com">{{Cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ca/milt-campbell-1.html |title=Milt Campbell |access-date=January 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417175533/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ca/milt-campbell-1.html |archive-date=17 April 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Football==
Campbell was also an excellent swimmer as a youth. An all around athlete, Campbell was drafted by the [[National Football League|NFL]] [[Cleveland Browns]] in 1957 and played one season in the same backfield as [[Jim Brown]].<ref name="foxnews1"/>  Milt was released from the Cleveland Browns by owner [[Paul Brown]] for marrying a white woman.<ref name="nj.com">{{Cite web |first=Dave |last=D'Alessandro |date=November 4, 2012 |url=http://www.nj.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/11/somehow_despite_all_he_accompl.html |title=Somehow, despite all he accomplished, the great Milt Campbell never got his proper due |website=NJ.com}}</ref>  He then played for several years in the [[Canadian Football League]], ending his football career in 1964.<ref name="nj.com"/>

While his spectacular performance as an Olympic decathlete was likely the peak of his athletic career, he continued to display his prowess on the football field, being drafted by the [[National Football League|NFL]] [[Cleveland Browns]] in 1957. He rushed seven times for 23 total yards in the halfback position and played alongside MVP and Rookie of the Year running back [[Jim Brown]].<ref name="foxnews1"/> However, his NFL career was unjustly short-lived: The owner of the Browns, [[Paul Brown]], placed his segregationist ideals above Campbell's athletic ability, and kicked him off the team for his marriage to Barbara Mount, a white woman. According to Campbell, Brown called him into his office the day before Campbell was “let go” and asked him why he got married, Campbell responded “I got married for the same reason you got married, I presume,” and told Brown that it was none of his business. He received a letter the next day telling him that his services were no longer needed by the Browns.<ref name="si.com">{{Cite news | author = SI Staff | title=Best Athlete You Never Knew Milt Campbell Was Dazzling as the Olympic Decathlon Champion in 1956 | work = [[Sports Illustrated]] | publisher = [[Time-Life]] | location = New York | date = August 5, 1996 | url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1996/08/05/best-athlete-you-never-knew-milt-campbell-was-dazzling-olympic-decathlon-champion-1956 | access-date = February 4, 2025 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200613232900/https://vault.si.com/vault/1996/08/05/best-athlete-you-never-knew-milt-campbell-was-dazzling-olympic-decathlon-champion-1956 | archive-date = June 13, 2020 | url-status = live }}</ref> Still wanting to pursue a career in football, Campbell went to Canada, where he joined the [[Canadian Football League]], playing with the [[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]] (8 games rushing for 468 yards), [[Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen (football)|Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen]], [[Montreal Alouettes]] (3 games) and [[Toronto Argonauts]] (9 games) until his retirement in 1964.<ref name="nj.com"/>

==Judo==
As he finished with most sports, Milt sought to stay active. He started Judo and quickly progressed through the ranks under Yoshishada Yoneska. Yoshishada stated that Milt had a strong chance to make the 1972 Olympic team.<ref name="blackathlete.net"/> An AAU Official took his card and stated he could not compete in the Olympics for Judo.<ref name="blackathlete.net"/> The reason was that Milt had competed as a professional football player. Milt was troubled as professional track runners were allowed to compete in the Olympics, but he could not because he played football.<ref name="blackathlete.net"/>

In 2008, a degree of Doctor of Public Service, ''honoris causa'', was conferred upon him by [[Monmouth University]] in West Long Branch, New Jersey.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}

==Legacy==
Despite his accomplishments as an extraordinary athlete, Milt Campbell never became a household name, nor was he properly rewarded like other famous athletes of his time. Other Olympic decathletes such as Bob Mathias and [[Caitlyn Jenner|Bruce Jenner]] gained many significant endorsements and a spot on a Wheaties box after their victories, while Campbell walked off of the 1956 podium with no cash, sponsors, or television executives asking for a feature. When asked about these differences in treatment, Campbell declared that “America wasn't ready for a black man to be the best athlete in the world”.<ref name="si.com"/> He has since been regarded as the Olympic superstar who is “famous” for not being famous. Renowned sports news platforms periodically procure lists of athletes that fit certain criteria as a means of praise for their incredible athletic prowess and achievements in the sporting world. As recently as 2000, ESPN has put out lists featuring the “50 Greatest Black Athletes” and the “Top 100 Athletes of the 20th Century”, which remind the public of what makes some of their heroes so notable. Campbell deserves to be high up on both of those lists, but in fact was not included or even mentioned on either list.<ref name="nypost.com">{{Cite web |first=Phil |last=Mushnick |date=August 18, 2017 |url=https://nypost.com/2017/08/17/forgotten-olympian-deserves-spot-on-any-greatest-athletes-list/ |title=Forgotten Olympian deserves spot on any greatest-athletes list |work=[[New York Post]]}}</ref>

Campbell was inducted into the Indiana University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1982, and United States Olympic Hall of Fame in 1992. In June 2012, Campbell was voted into the [[New Jersey Hall of Fame]].<ref name="foxnews1"/> (nytimes.com). He is also present in the National Track and Field Hall of Fame and the International Swimming Hall of Fame, and remains the only individual to hold a spot in both of these Halls.

Following a long-fought battle with prostate cancer, Campbell died in his Gainesville, GA home in the summer of 2012 with his long-standing girlfriend Linda Rusch, by his side. He was 78 years old. His brother (Thomas L. Campbell, Jr.) preceded him in death. Milt is survived by his sister (Sandra E. Campbell Smith), his daughters (Julee Campbell, Dorianne B., and Mona H.), his sons (Milton G. Campbell Jr., deceased, Justin Campbell, and Milton G. Campbell, III), his granddaughter (Taria L. Campbell), and his great-grandchild (Nathaniel G. Johnsen). He is interred at Memorial Park Cemetery and Mausoleum - North in Gainesville.<ref name="nytimes.com"/>

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="foxnews1">{{cite web |url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/first-black-olympic-decathlon-winner-milt-campbell-dies-at-78/ |title=First black Olympic decathlon winner, Milt Campbell, dies at 78 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |publisher=[[Fox News]] |date=November 4, 2012 |access-date=November 4, 2012}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{Portal|United States}}
* {{Team USA Hall of Fame|new_id=milt-campbell|old_id=Milt-Campbell|archive=20230621123018}}
* {{Olympics.com profile|milton-gray-campbell|Milton Gray Campbell|org_archive=20190627054932}}
* {{Olympedia}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|aw}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Leon Patterson (athlete)|Leon Patterson]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=''[[Track & Field News]]'' High School Boys Athlete of the Year|years=1952}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Don Vick]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Browns1957DraftPicks}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions Decathlon}}
{{Footer US NC Decathlon Men}}
{{Footer US NC 110m Hurdles Men}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1952 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1956 Summer Olympics}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Campbell, Milt}}
[[Category:1933 births]]
[[Category:2012 deaths]]
[[Category:African-American track and field athletes]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Union County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1952 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1956 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Plainfield High School (New Jersey) alumni]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Plainfield, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in track and field]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for the United States in track and field]]
[[Category:American men decathletes]]
[[Category:Cleveland Browns players]]
[[Category:Hamilton Tiger-Cats players]]
[[Category:Montreal Alouettes players]]
[[Category:Toronto Argonauts players]]
[[Category:Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen (football) players]]
[[Category:Indiana Hoosiers football players]]
[[Category:American football fullbacks]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:African-American activists]]
[[Category:American male judoka]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1956 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1952 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Track and field athletes from Union County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners]]
[[Category:Indiana Hoosiers men's track and field athletes]]