Former USA Track & Field National Long Distance Running chairman
Bob Campbell of West Roxbury, Massachusetts died on Friday,
December 10, 2004. He was 95.His own running career spanned 14 years from 1929 to 1943). He won
seven New England championships at distances from three to 10 miles,
along with numerous steeplechase and cross country titles. Campbell
continued in the sport as a coach and under his tutelage the Norfolk
Young Men's Association won 25 New England and 15 National AAU
team championships. His athletes included one Olympic and two Pan
American Games marathoners.
Campbell's involvement as an administrator for long distance running
on both the local and national level for over 40 years had a great impact
on the sport. In the New England Association, Campbell served nine
years as the NEAAU handicapper, followed by 11 years as LDR
chairman, and stints as both New England AAU and TAC president. He
also served as an official for the Boston Marathon for 41 years, 20 of
those as referee.
Nationally, Campbell served as chairman of the National Long Distance
Running Committee for the AAU and TAC for a total of 11 years, and as
vice-chair for 17 years from 1957 through 1984. It was during his second
term as chair that the USA began to compete regularly in the IAAF World
Cross Country Championships.
Campbell chaired the Olympic Marathon Trials Site Selection
Committee from 1980 through 1984, and the Scott Hamilton Award
committee from 1976 through 1984. Among the honors Campbell
received were the H. Browning Ross Long Distance Running Merit
Award (1970), TAC Long Distance Running Executive Committee
Award (1984) and a TAC President's Award (1988).