Browning Ross facts for kids
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| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's athletics | ||
Representing the  United States |
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| Pan American Games | ||
| Gold | 1951 Buenos Aires | 1500 metres |
| Silver | 1951 Buenos Aires | 3000 m steeplechase |
Harris Browning 'Brownie' Ross (born April 26, 1924 – died April 27, 1998) was a very important person in American long-distance running. Many people call him the "father" of this sport in the United States. He helped many runners and made the sport more popular.
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Brownie's Early Life and Start in Running
Brownie Ross lived in Woodbury, New Jersey, his whole life. He loved sharing his passion for long-distance running. He is remembered for helping to build the sport in the U.S.
High School Running Star
Brownie didn't always love running. He actually started running after he didn't make his high school baseball team! But it turned out to be a great choice. He quickly became one of the best high school distance runners in New Jersey. In 1943, during his senior year, he won the New Jersey State Mile Championship. He also became the National Interscholastic Indoor Mile Champion.
Serving His Country
After high school, Ross joined the United States Navy and served during World War II. After his service, a famous track coach, Jim "Jumbo" Elliott, noticed him. Brownie won a two-mile race at Madison Square Garden. This win earned him a scholarship to Villanova University.
Running at Villanova University
Brownie Ross was one of the first amazing runners coached by Jim "Jumbo" Elliott at Villanova University. This was in the late 1940s. In 1948, he won the NCAA steeplechase championship. This big win helped him get a spot on the USA team for the 1948 Summer Olympics.
Competing Around the World
The Olympics: 1948 and 1952
Ross competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. He was the only American to reach the final in the steeplechase race. He finished 7th overall. After these Olympics, Ross stayed in Europe to race in road races in Ireland. There, he saw many talented runners. When he returned home, he told Coach Elliott about them. Elliott listened to his advice. This led to Villanova University becoming famous for its many Irish runners.
Brownie Ross also competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. However, he did not reach the finals in any of his races that year.
Pan American Games Success in 1951
At the 1951 Pan American Games, Ross had great success. He won first place in the 1500 meter run. He also shared first place in the 3000 meter steeplechase. He finished fourth in the 5000 meter run.
There was a bit of a debate in the 3000m steeplechase race. Two American runners, Curt Stone and Ross, were far ahead of everyone else. As they neared the finish line, Stone slowed down and held Ross's hand. They crossed the finish line together! Officials discussed for two hours if this was allowed. In the end, they let the results stand. Stone was ranked first after a very close look at the finish photo.
Long Distance Log: A Magazine for Runners
Brownie Ross loved running so much that he stayed involved even after his racing days. In 1955, he saw that there was no good way to share running results and news. People needed to know more about long-distance running. So, in 1956, he started a magazine called Long Distance Log. It was the only magazine in the USA just for long-distance running at that time.
The first copies were made on the back of old high school history tests! This magazine became very important. It helped connect runners and discuss their concerns for over 20 years. Ross was the first editor of the magazine. It was mailed every month to about 1,000 people across the country until 1975.
In 1958, Ross also started the Middle Atlantic Road Runners Club in Philadelphia. A year later, this club became the national Road Runners Club of America. Today, this club has more than 180,000 members all over the country! In 1968, when he was 43, Brownie Ross set an American indoor mile record for older runners (Masters American record) with a time of 4:45.0.
Awards and Recognition
Brownie Ross achieved many great things and received many honors:
- He won 8 National AAU Cross Country Championships.
- He won the famous Berwick (PA) Marathon 10 times.
- He was an Olympic runner twice and reached the finals in his first Olympics.
- He won a Gold medal at the Pan-Am Games.
- He was the first manager for the U.S. Cross Country team.
- He received the first Annual Long Distance AAU Award in 1969.
- He led the National AAU long-distance and road-running committee from 1968 to 1971.
- He was inducted into many Halls of Fame, including the National Distance Running Hall of Fame, Villanova University, Gloucester County, and Woodbury High School.
- He was also a coach at several high schools and Rutgers University. He organized races, published his magazine, and was a track official.
- Two races are held in his honor: The Benjamin/Ross 5k in Woodbury, New Jersey, and the Ross Kupcha 5k and kids run in National Park, New Jersey.
- A special memorial for H. Browning Ross was dedicated on July 4, 2001, in his hometown.
- The Road Runners Club of America created the H. Browning Ross Award in his memory. It is given each year to someone who shows the same spirit as Brownie Ross.
See also
- Runner's World, a magazine started in 1966 that was similar to Ross's Long Distance Log.
