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 and Willard Tibbetts. 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 trained him at Mercersburg.

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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

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