J.W. Mashburn

J.W. Mashburn is recognized as one of the best quartermilers this nation has ever produced and definitely the best to come out of Oklahoma. Mashburn, an Olympic gold medal trackster from Oklahoma State University, known as a vital cog for the Cowboys and the U.S. Olympic teams from 1952-1956.

Mashburn, a native from Oklahoma City, attended Capitol Hill High School lettering in football, basketball and track during a time when Capitol Hill was one of the premier prep powers in the state. He helped the Redskins' football team win the 1949 state championship and back-to-back track state titles in 1950 and 1951. He also collected gold medals in track in the 180-yard hurdles, 220-yard dash and 440-yard dash. He also ran championships relay quartets in the 440, 880 and mile.

His senior season, he had the fastest time in the nation in the 440 (48.1) which was only one-tenth of a second behind then then record of 48 seconds flat.

Mashburn concentrated his track talents at Oklahoma State University (then Oklahoma A&M) and would become a four-time All-American from 1952-1956. His talent also led him overseas as a member of the U.S. Olympic track team where he helped bring home the gold medal in the 4X400 relay. A few days later, he ran a leg on the 1,600-meter relay team that set a world record during the British-USA meet in London, England. In 1955, he won the gold medal in the 4X400 again in the Pan American Games in Mexico City.

At OSU, he was the NCAA 400-meter champion in both 1955 and 1956. Mashburn was honored as the 1999 Oklahoma 400-Meter Runner of the Century.