Josh Culbreath
Encyclopedia
Joshua Culbreath (born 14 September 1932) was an American
athlete who competed mainly in the 400 meter hurdles — the national outdoor champion from 1953 to 1955; three-time winner of the event in the Penn Relays in the same years, and Olympic bronze medal winner in 1956, while he was serving in the U.S. Marine Corps; and world record holder in 1957.
on September 14, 1932.
Culbreath began running the hurdles in high school and 1951 was ranked second in the U.S. in the 200 yard low hurdles and was the Pennsylvania's state high school champion in that event.
Culbreath graduated from Morgan State College
in 1955 with a Bachelor of Arts
in Political Science, where he was the USA Outdoor champion in the 400m hurdles for three consecutive years — 1953, 1954, and 1955. He was also a three-time winner of the event in the Penn Relays
during the same years, the last time this has been accomplished. Culbreath later received a Master of Arts
degree in Education from Temple University
.
He served in the United States Marine Corps
from 1956 to 1958. During his time in the Marine Corps, he competed for the United States in the 1956 Summer Olympics
held in Melbourne
, Australia
in the 400 metre hurdles where he won the bronze medal. He also won several military and NATO track and field
medals. He set the world records in the hurdles in 1956 and 1957 — in the 300 yard Oval Grass Track, set in Bendigo, Australia in 1956 and in the 440 yard hurdles, set in Oslo, Norway in 1957.
In 1988, Culbreath became the track and field coach at Central State University
in Ohio, where he coached his team to 10 NAIA
championships. Four of his athletes competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics
in Atlanta, Georgia
, including the 400m hurdles gold medalist, Deon Hemmings
. His son, Jahan Culbreath, also an All-American 400m hurdler, is now the coach at Central State.
After his time coaching at Central State, he became the athletic director at Morehouse College
in Atlanta.
He made two guest appearances on The Cosby Show
, playing the character Colonel Sanford B. "Tailwind" Turner, Cliff Huxtable's college track rival.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
athlete who competed mainly in the 400 meter hurdles — the national outdoor champion from 1953 to 1955; three-time winner of the event in the Penn Relays in the same years, and Olympic bronze medal winner in 1956, while he was serving in the U.S. Marine Corps; and world record holder in 1957.
Biography
Joshua Culbreath was born in Norristown, PennsylvaniaNorristown, Pennsylvania
Norristown is a municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, northwest of the city limits of Philadelphia, on the Schuylkill River. The population was 34,324 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County...
on September 14, 1932.
Culbreath began running the hurdles in high school and 1951 was ranked second in the U.S. in the 200 yard low hurdles and was the Pennsylvania's state high school champion in that event.
Culbreath graduated from Morgan State College
Morgan State University
Morgan State University, formerly Centenary Biblical Institute , Morgan College and Morgan State College , is a historically black college in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Morgan is Maryland's designated public urban university and the largest HBCU in the state of Maryland...
in 1955 with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Political Science, where he was the USA Outdoor champion in the 400m hurdles for three consecutive years — 1953, 1954, and 1955. He was also a three-time winner of the event in the Penn Relays
Penn Relays
The Penn Relays is the oldest and largest track and field competition in the United States, hosted annually since April 21, 1895 by the University of Pennsylvania at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
during the same years, the last time this has been accomplished. Culbreath later received a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in Education from Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
.
He served in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
from 1956 to 1958. During his time in the Marine Corps, he competed for the United States in the 1956 Summer Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
held in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in the 400 metre hurdles where he won the bronze medal. He also won several military and NATO track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
medals. He set the world records in the hurdles in 1956 and 1957 — in the 300 yard Oval Grass Track, set in Bendigo, Australia in 1956 and in the 440 yard hurdles, set in Oslo, Norway in 1957.
In 1988, Culbreath became the track and field coach at Central State University
Central State University
Central State University, commonly referred to as "C-State", is a historically black university located in Wilberforce, Ohio, United States. It is the only public HBCU in Ohio.-History:...
in Ohio, where he coached his team to 10 NAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
championships. Four of his athletes competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, including the 400m hurdles gold medalist, Deon Hemmings
Deon Hemmings
Deon Hemmings is a former female 400 metres hurdler.Hemmings was the first ever Jamaican woman to win an Olympic Gold when she won the 400m Hurdles at the 1996 Olympics breaking the Olympic record which stood to 2004...
. His son, Jahan Culbreath, also an All-American 400m hurdler, is now the coach at Central State.
After his time coaching at Central State, he became the athletic director at Morehouse College
Morehouse College
Morehouse College is a private, all-male, liberal arts, historically black college located in Atlanta, Georgia. Along with Hampden-Sydney College and Wabash College, Morehouse is one of three remaining traditional men's colleges in the United States....
in Atlanta.
He made two guest appearances on The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992...
, playing the character Colonel Sanford B. "Tailwind" Turner, Cliff Huxtable's college track rival.
See also
- Edwin MosesEdwin MosesEdwin Corley Moses is an American track and field athlete who won gold medals in the 400 metre hurdles at the 1976 and 1984 Olympics. Between 1977 and 1987, Moses won 107 consecutive finals and set the world record in his event four times...
, 1976 & 1984 American 400m hurdles Olympic gold medalist