Joe Smith (athlete)

Bernard Joseph Smith (1917 — 25 January 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 of Boston, he won the 1941 USA Marathon Championships at the Yonkers Marathon.

Joe Smith

Personal information
Birth name	Bernard Joseph Smith
Nationality	American
Born	1917 Medford, Massachusetts
Died	January 25, 1993 (aged 77) Pembroke Pines, Florida
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	257 lb (117 kg)
Medal record World Marathon Majors 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 of Boston, Smith was runnerup 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

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
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 25 January 1993 in Pembroke Pines, Florida.[1]

References

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

External links

Bernard Joseph Smith at ARRS