1989 Hall of Fame Inductee
When you mention top all-around male athletes in our nation's history, certainly the name of Milt Campbell has to be up there with Jim Thorpe, Bob Mathias, Rafer Johnson, Bruce Jenner and Dan O'Brien. Like them, Campbell was an Olympic decathlon champion but track and field wasn't the only sport in which he excelled. He was also outstanding in football, eventually playing in the National Football and Canadian Leagues. He was an All-American swimmer while in high school and was also national class in karate. While still at Plainfield High School, Campbell finished fifth in the Olympic Trials in the 110m hurdles but made the Olympic team in the decathlon. He gained national prominence by finishing second to Mathias in the Olympic decathlon. The 1953 national decathlon champion, Campbell later won the Olympic decathlon title in 1956. Also a national champion in the high hurdles, he set a 120-yard high hurdles record of 13.4 in 1957 and held the world indoor best of 7.0 for the 60-yard high hurdles. After attending Indiana University where he excelled in both track and football, he played pro football with the Cleveland Browns and the Montreal Alouettes. He has received numerous honors, including being named the world's greatest high school athlete in 1952. The Newark Star-Ledger selected him as the greatest athlete of the 20th century, not only for his sports accomplishments but also for the strength of his character. Campbell is also a member of the Black Athletes' Hall of Fame and the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.
World Record: 120 yd. hurdles - 13.40 (May 31, 1957 - )
1952 Olympics: Decathlon (2nd) 1956 Olympics: Decathlon - 7708 pts. (1st) 1953 National Championships: Decathlon (1st)
Professional football