Josh Culbreath

Joshua Culbreath (September 14, 1932 – July 1, 2021) was an American athlete who competed mainly in the 400 meter hurdles—the national outdoor champion from 1953 to 1955; three-time winner of the event in the Penn Relays in the same years, and Olympic bronze medal winner in 1956, while he was serving in the U.S. Marine Corps; and world record holder in 1957. Culbreath was inducted into the United States Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.

Early life Culbreath was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, on September 14, 1932. He began running the hurdles in high school and in 1951 was ranked second in the U.S. in the 200 yard low hurdles and was the Pennsylvania's state high school champion in that event.

Culbreath graduated in 1955 with a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Morgan State College, He was also a three-time winner of the event in the Penn Relays during the same years, the last time this has been accomplished. Culbreath later received a Master of Arts degree in education from Temple University. He was a member of The Flying Four American collegiate 4 × 400 metres relay team. He also won several military and NATO track and field medals. He set the world records in the hurdles in 1956 and 1957

Culbreath became the track and field coach at Central State University in 1988. Four of his athletes competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, including the 400m hurdles gold medalist, Deon Hemmings. Jahan followed in his father's footsteps and became an All-American 400 m hurdler, as well as the coach at Central State.

Culbreath died on July 1, 2021, under hospice care in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was 88, and suffered a period of declining health prior to his death.