H. Browning Ross
Encyclopedia
Browning Ross is often referred to as the father of long distance running in America.
H. Browning Ross, nicknamed "Brownie" by his friends, was a lifelong resident of Woodbury
in Gloucester County, New Jersey
, USA from his birth up until his death (nearly 74 years later to the day). He devoted his life to spreading his love and enthusiasm for long distance running and is often credited as the cornerstone to the development of long distance runners in the States today.
baseball team that he took up running. It was not long before his second choice of sport was a true calling, as Ross blossomed into one of the greatest high school distance runners in the entire state of New Jersey. In the spring of 1943, his senior year, he was crowned the N.J. State Mile Champion and National Interscholastic Indoor Mile Champion.
. He joined the Navy
and fought in World War II
. Upon discharge several years later, he was discovered by Villanova University
track coach Jim "Jumbo" Elliott and awarded a scholarship
after a victory in a two-mile race at Madison Square Garden
.
championship, which paved the way for his 1948 U.S. Olympic Team qualification weeks later.
where he became the only American to compete in the steeplechase final, placing 7th overall with a 9:23.2 time. After the Olympics were over Ross decided to stay in Europe
and postpone his return trip to the United States because he wanted to compete in road races
held in Ireland
. It was there that he discovered a vast resource of running talent, and when Ross returned home he promptly alerted "Jumbo" of his findings. Elliott heeded his advice, and thus began Villanova's tradition with its long line of Irish runners.
Ross, however, did not match the same success in the 1952 Olympics
held in Helsinki
, Finland
. He qualified to compete but never reached the finals in any competition.
, Ross placed 1st in the 1500 meter run
, shared 1st in the 3000 meter steeplechase, and finished 4th in the 5000 meter run
.
A controversy occurred in the 3000m steeplechase, where two Americans, Curt Stone
and Ross, had pulled away from the field. Stone slowed down on the last straightaway and held Ross's hand as they crossed the line together. Argentine officials debated for two hours whether their actions violated rules requiring athletes to make an effort to win before finally allowing the results to stand, ranking Stone as first after a close examination of the finish photo.
In 1958 Ross founded the Philadelphia Road Runners Club, which later became the national Road Runners Club of America
. The club today boasts of more than 180,000 members nationwide.
H. Browning Ross, nicknamed "Brownie" by his friends, was a lifelong resident of Woodbury
Woodbury, New Jersey
Woodbury is a city in Gloucester County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, 10,307 residents were counted. Woodbury is the county seat of Gloucester County....
in Gloucester County, New Jersey
Gloucester County, New Jersey
Gloucester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 288,288. Its county seat is Woodbury....
, USA from his birth up until his death (nearly 74 years later to the day). He devoted his life to spreading his love and enthusiasm for long distance running and is often credited as the cornerstone to the development of long distance runners in the States today.
High school
Ross did not grow up possessing a love for running. In, fact it was not until he was cut from Woodbury High School'sWoodbury Junior-Senior High School
Woodbury Junior-Senior High School is a comprehensive community middle school and public high school that serves students in sixth through twelfth grades from Woodbury, in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States, as part of the Woodbury Public Schools system.As of the 2008-09 school year, the...
baseball team that he took up running. It was not long before his second choice of sport was a true calling, as Ross blossomed into one of the greatest high school distance runners in the entire state of New Jersey. In the spring of 1943, his senior year, he was crowned the N.J. State Mile Champion and National Interscholastic Indoor Mile Champion.
World War II
Like many teenagers during his generation, Ross graduated from high school and went straight into military serviceMilitary service
Military service, in its simplest sense, is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, whether as a chosen job or as a result of an involuntary draft . Some nations require a specific amount of military service from every citizen...
. He joined the Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and fought in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Upon discharge several years later, he was discovered by Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
track coach Jim "Jumbo" Elliott and awarded a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
after a victory in a two-mile race at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
.
Villanova University
Ross was one of Elliott's first magnificent runners at Villanova during the late 1940s. In 1948 he won the NCAA steeplechaseSteeplechase (athletics)
The steeplechase is an obstacle race in athletics, which derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing.-Rules:The length of the race is usually 3000 m; junior events are 2000 m, as women's events formerly were. The circuit has four ordinary barriers and one water jump. Over 3000 m, each...
championship, which paved the way for his 1948 U.S. Olympic Team qualification weeks later.
1948 and 1952 Olympics
Ross competed in the 1948 London OlympicsLondon Olympics
London has hosted the Olympic Games on two past occasions, in 1908 and 1948, with a third scheduled for 2012. The planned 2012 Olympics will make London the first city to have hosted the modern Games of three Olympiads...
where he became the only American to compete in the steeplechase final, placing 7th overall with a 9:23.2 time. After the Olympics were over Ross decided to stay in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and postpone his return trip to the United States because he wanted to compete in road races
Road running
Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road . These events would be classified as long distance according to athletics terminology, with distances typically ranging from 5 kilometers to 42.2 kilometers in the marathon. They may involve large numbers of runners...
held in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. It was there that he discovered a vast resource of running talent, and when Ross returned home he promptly alerted "Jumbo" of his findings. Elliott heeded his advice, and thus began Villanova's tradition with its long line of Irish runners.
Ross, however, did not match the same success in the 1952 Olympics
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
held in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. He qualified to compete but never reached the finals in any competition.
1951 Pan American Games
At the 1951 Pan American Games1951 Pan American Games
The 1951 Pan American Games were held in Buenos Aires, Argentina between 25 February-9 March 1951. The Pan American Games' origins were at the Games of the X Olympiad in Los Angeles, United States, where officials representing the National Olympic Committees of the Americas discussed the staging...
, Ross placed 1st in the 1500 meter run
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
, shared 1st in the 3000 meter steeplechase, and finished 4th in the 5000 meter run
5000 metres
The 5000 metres is a popular running distance also known as 5 km or 5K in American English. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics. "5000 metres" refers to racing on a track and "5K" usually refers to a roadrace or cross country event...
.
A controversy occurred in the 3000m steeplechase, where two Americans, Curt Stone
Curt Stone
Curtis Charles Stone is a retired long-distance runner from the United States...
and Ross, had pulled away from the field. Stone slowed down on the last straightaway and held Ross's hand as they crossed the line together. Argentine officials debated for two hours whether their actions violated rules requiring athletes to make an effort to win before finally allowing the results to stand, ranking Stone as first after a close examination of the finish photo.
Long Distance Log
With such passion for the sport he loved it was inevitable that Ross would continue to stay involved even after his heyday of running. In 1955 he recognized the need for distance running results to be published and widely distributed in order to increase the public's awareness of the sport. In 1956 he created the Long Distance Log (after its inspiration, Distance Running Journal, created by Austin Scott in 1953) the only publication devoted exclusively to long distance running in the USA. The first issues were mimeographed on the backs of recycled high school history tests. The Log would become the major instrument to unite runners and address their concerns over the next 20 years. He was the first editor-in-chief of the magazine, which mailed monthly to about 1,000 subscribers throughout the country until 1975.In 1958 Ross founded the Philadelphia Road Runners Club, which later became the national Road Runners Club of America
Road Runners Club of America
Founded in 1958, the Road Runners Club of America is the oldest and largest distance running organization in the United States with over 1500 running club and event members representing 200,000 individual runners active in their running communities...
. The club today boasts of more than 180,000 members nationwide.
Accomplishments, awards, and recognition
- Sources
- Won 8 National AAUAmateur Athletic UnionThe Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
Cross CountryCross country runningCross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
Championships. - Won the prestigious Berwick (PA) Marathon 10 times.
- Two-time Olympic runner, even reaching the finals in his first Olympic appearance and finishing seventh overall.
- Gold medalGold medalA gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
winner at the Pan-Am Games. - Was first U.S. Cross Country team manager.
- Received the first Annual Long Distance AAU Award in 1969.
- Chairman of the National AAU long distance and road running committee from 1968–1971
- Elected to the National Distance RunningNational Distance Running Hall of FameThe National Distance Running Hall of Fame was established on July 11, 1998, to honor those who have contributed to the sport of distance running...
, Villanova University, Gloucester County and Woodbury High School Halls of FameHall of FameA hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
. - Former coach (Woodrow Wilson High SchoolWoodrow Wilson High School (New Jersey)Woodrow Wilson High School is a four-year public high school in Camden, in Camden County, New Jersey, United States, serving students in ninth through twelfth grades as part of the Camden City Public Schools....
, Gloucester Catholic High SchoolGloucester Catholic High SchoolGloucester Catholic High School is a co-educational four-year Roman Catholic high school located in Gloucester City, New Jersey, United States. The school operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden...
and Rutgers UniversityRutgers UniversityRutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
), meet and race organizer, publisher, track official and sporting goods entrepreneur in the world of long distance running. - Two races are held in his name. The Benjamin/Ross 5k is held in June in his hometown of Woodbury, NJ and the Ross Kupcha 5k and kids run held in National Park, NJ on Easter Saturday.
- An H. Browning Ross Memorial was dedicated on July 4, 2001 at the bottom of Wood Street overlooking the Woodbury High School stadium and track.
- The H. Browning Ross Award was established in his memory by the Road Runners Club of America to acknowledge one individual each year who reflects the spirit of that organization.
See also
- Runner's WorldRunner's WorldRunner's World is a globally circulated monthly magazine for runners of all skills sets, published by Rodale Press in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
, magazine started in 1996 by Bob AndersonBob Anderson (runner)Bob Anderson is an American runner, photographer, publisher and film producer. He is the founder of Runner's World magazine. A desire to find information about running and racing led him to a career in magazine and book publishing for more than twenty years...
, originally named Distance Running News, which was similar to Ross' Long Distance Log at the time
External links
- Browning Ross at Sports-Reference.com
- Video of H. Browning Ross (click on thumbnail toward bottom right → requires QuickTimeQuickTimeQuickTime is an extensible proprietary multimedia framework developed by Apple Inc., capable of handling various formats of digital video, picture, sound, panoramic images, and interactivity. The classic version of QuickTime is available for Windows XP and later, as well as Mac OS X Leopard and...
) - Runners Club Newsletter Vol. 2, Issue 2
- Who's Who in Running
- Jack on Jack: A Look at Coaching Legend Jack Pyrah
- Runners Mecca - Ross Tribute
- Browning Ross, 74, Founder of Road Runners, obituary by Frank Litsky in The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, April 30, 1998 - Interview: Browning Ross Father of American Distance Running