William John 'Spuds' Cox (June 12, 1904 – June 3, 1996) was an American middle-distance runner. Although initially qualifying for the 5,000m team at the 1924 Olympics, he competed in the 3,000m team race. He placed eighth individually, thereby winning a team bronze medal, together with

Edward Kirby Edward Buckler Kirby (October 30, 1901 – July 5, 1968) was an American athlete who competed mainly in the 3000 metre team. He competed for the United States in the 1924 Summer Olympics held in Paris, France, in the 3000 metre team where he ...

and

Willard Tibbetts Willard Lewis Tibbetts, Jr. (March 26, 1903 - March 28, 1992) was an American athlete who competed mainly in the 3000 metre team. Tibbetts grew up in Stafford Springs, Connecticut. He graduated from Worcester Academy in 1922 and matriculate ...

. Cox was educated at the Rochester Shop School,

Mercersburg Academy Mercersburg Academy (formerly Marshall College and Mercersburg College) is an independent selective college-preparatory boarding & day high school in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania in the United States. Founded in 1893, the school enrolls approximat ...

, and

Pennsylvania State University The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State or PSU) is a Public university, public Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related Land-grant university, land-grant research university with campuses and facilities throughout Pennsylvan ...

. While at Mercersburg he put on several pounds in weight due to his love of potatoes in the school dining room, earning him the nickname 'Spuds'. In later years he returned to Rochester Shop School (then known as Edison Technical School) and taught mathematics for 36 years. Scots American coach

Jimmy Curran James Michael Curran (January 7, 1880 – February 7, 1963) was an athletics coach, best known for training five Olympic gold medallists. From 1900-1902 he fought with the Highland Light Infantry in the Second Boer War, serving much of that time u ...

trained him at Mercersburg.

References

1904 births 1996 deaths American male long-distance runners Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in track and field Athletes (track and field) at the 1924 Summer Olympics Place of birth missing Sportspeople from Rochester, New York Medalists at the 1924 Summer Olympics {{US-athletics-Olympic-medalist-stub

See also

References