Joe Smith (athlete)

Bernard Joseph Smith (1917 – January 25, 1993) was an American marathon runner. He was the winner of the 1942 Boston Marathon with a course record of 2:26:51. His record lasted for five years until it was broken by 1947 Boston Marathon winner Suh Yun-bok. At Boston, Smith came in fifth place at the 1941 and 1949 marathons. Outside Boston, he won the 1941 USA Marathon Championships at the Yonkers Marathon.

Joe Smith
Personal information
Birth nameBernard Joseph Smith
NationalityAmerican
Born1917 (1917)
Medford, Massachusetts
Died (aged 77)
Pembroke Pines, Florida
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight257 lb (117 kg)
Medal record
World Marathon Majors
Gold medal – first place 1942 Boston Marathon

Early life

In 1917, Smith was born in Medford, Massachusetts.[1]

Career

Smith was a milkman before he began marathon running in 1940. His first World Marathon Majors races were at the 1940 and 1941 Boston Marathon.[2] In 1941, he won the USA Marathon Championships during the Yonkers Marathon.[3] The following year, Smith wanted to sit out the 1942 Boston Marathon while he recuperated from the flu. After his wife convinced him to compete, Smith won the marathon and set a course record of 2:26:51.[4] Smith stopped running in 1942 when he enlisted to the United States Coast Guard and served three years during World War II.[2]

Upon his return from the war,Smith did not compete from 1945 to 1946 and resumed running at the 1947 Boston Marathon.[5] Smith did not finish the 1947 marathon while his five year course record was broken by winner Suh Yun-bok.[6] In the following Boston races, he did not finish in 1948 and placed in 5th at his last marathon in 1949.[2] Outside Boston, Smith was runner-up in the 1947 Western Hemisphere Marathon.[7] He also came in 5rh at the 1959 Yonkers Marathon and ran at the 1949 Western Hemisphere Marathon.[8] After ending his marathon career, Smith continued working as a milkman until 1957. Smith moved on work for a post office for three decades before retiring in 1987.[1]

Achievements
YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventNotes
Representing  United States
1940 Boston Marathon Boston, United States 19th Marathon
1941 Boston Marathon Boston, United States 5th Marathon
1942 Boston Marathon Boston, United States 1st Marathon 2:26:51
1947 Boston Marathon Boston, United States DNF Marathon
1948 Boston Marathon Boston, United States DNF Marathon
1949 Boston Marathon Boston, United States 5th Marathon 2:38:30

Personal life

Smith was married and had three children.[1]

Death

Smith died on January 25, 1993, in Pembroke Pines, Florida.[1]

References
  1. Griffith, Bill (January 27, 1993). "Bernard Joseph Smith, at 77; winner of 1942 Boston Marathon". Boston Globe. p. 45.
  2. Gardner, Darlene H. (May 15, 1987). "1942 Marathon Win Knocked `em Over". Fort Lauderdale News/Sun-Sentinel. p. SW31. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  3. "Joe Smith Latest Entry in BAA Run". Boston Globe. April 6, 1942. p. 8.
  4. "Urged by Wife to Compete, Milkman Wins Marathon". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 20, 1942. p. 15.
  5. "Joe Smith Returns To Boston Marathon Race". Waco-News Tribune. April 19, 1947. p. 6.
  6. "Korean Sets Record in Boston Marathon". Baltimore Sun. April 20, 1947. p. S1.
  7. Robb, Sharon (April 20, 1992). "In `42, Winner Got No Bread – Just Some Stew". Boston Globe. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  8. Nason, Jerry (April 13, 1979). "The day 'Plain Joe' wasn't so plain". Sports Plus. Boston Globe. p. 9.

Bernard Joseph Smith at ARRS

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