Joseph Pearman
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National team |  United States | ||||||||||||||
| Born | May 8, 1892 Manhattan, New York, United States | ||||||||||||||
| Died | May 30, 1961 (aged 69) East Orange, New Jersey, United States | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 188 cm (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||
| Sport | Men's athletics | ||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | 47:30.0 (10kmW, 1920) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Joseph Bernard Pearman (May 8, 1892 – May 30, 1961) was an American race walker. He competed for the United States in the 1920 Summer Olympics held in Antwerp, Belgium in the 3 kilometer walk and 10 kilometer walk, where he won silver in the latter. After retiring from racing, he became and athletics official and editor.
Early life
[edit]Pearman was born in Manhattan, New York City, on May 8, 1892.[1] He claimed that his father paid the cost of moving to the United States by wagering on a horse race.[2] He played American football with future author F. Scott Fitzgerald while attending the Newman School, where he played center. Afterwards, Pearman attended New York University.[3]
Pearman served in the United States Army. He was a member of 71st New York Infantry Regiment and the 105th Infantry Regiment during World War I.[3] Later in life, he was a commander for an American Legion post.[4]
Athletic career
[edit]Pearman's first race was at Ulmer Park, Brooklyn, in 1915. Afterwards, Pearman won multiple races, including first place in an Amateur Athletic Union race walking events in the one-mile, two-mile, three-mile, and seven-mile races. Pearman's fastest time for the mile was six minutes and thirty seconds.[2][5] During his athletic career, Pearman was affiliated with the New York Athletic Club.[1]
During the 1920 Summer Olympics, Pearman competed in the 10 kilometer walk and the 3 kilometer walk.[1] For the three-kilometer race, Pearman failed to qualify for the finals.[6] Despite this, Pearman qualified for the 10-kilometer race after taking second place.[7] During the final, he led for the first ten laps and ran the first kilometer at 4:28. However, eventual winner Ugo Frigerio surged to take the lead. Pearman's final time was 94 seconds behind Frigerio's, taking second place.[8] At the Olympics, Pearman shook the hand of Albert I of Belgium.[5]
Pearman retired from competition in 1930. Afterwards, he participated as an athletics official, primarily for the Amateur Athletic Union. During the 1936 Summer Olympics, Pearman served as an official.[2]
Post-athletic career
[edit]Politics
[edit]Pearman unsuccessfully ran for the political office of Bergen County sheriff in 1945.[3] He ran for office as a member of the New Jersey Democratic Party.[4] His opponent in the election was Republican candidate Frank Livermore.[5] He additionally served as a municipal chairman within the Democratic Party.[4]
Writing
[edit]In addition to athletics, Pearman was an author and editor. He edited for the then-New York Edison Company, and for the Winged foot, the publication for the New York Athletic Club. In addition to editing, he was a contributor to Bernarr Macfadden's publications and Encyclopædia Britannica's Book of the Year.[3]
Personal life
[edit]Pearman was involved in Catholicism; he served as a president of a Catholic Club, and hosted events for a Catholic church.[3]
During his life, Pearman resided in Closter, New Jersey. He lived there for at least 30 years.[3]
At the age of 69, Pearman died on May 30, 1961, at Veterans Administration Hospital in East Orange, New Jersey. At the time of his death, he was married.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Joseph Pearman". Olympedia. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ a b c Joe, Lovas (1945-11-02). "Sportsman's corner". The Herald-News. p. 16. Retrieved 2025-03-16.
- ^ a b c d e f Dalton, William T. (1958-11-15). "Heel-And-Toe Artist". The Record. p. 30. Retrieved 2025-03-16.
- ^ a b c d "J. B. Pearman, 69; All-Time Olympian". The Record. 1961-06-01. p. 4. Retrieved 2025-03-16.
- ^ a b c Del Greco, Al (1945-11-03). "At Random In Sportdom". The Record. p. 8. Retrieved 2025-03-16.
- ^ "Olympedia – 3,000 metres Race Walk, Men". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 2025-03-16.
- ^ "Olympedia – 10 kilometres Race Walk, Men". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 2025-03-16.
- ^ Warburton, Paul (2021-07-13). "Remembering Italian race walking maverick Frigerio on anniversary of third Olympic gold". World Athletics. Retrieved 2025-03-16.
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- USA Indoor Track and Field Championships winners
- 1892 births
- 1961 deaths
- Sportspeople from Manhattan
- Track and field athletes from New York City
- American male race walkers
- Olympic silver medalists for the United States in track and field
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1920 Summer Olympics
- Medalists at the 1920 Summer Olympics
- 20th-century American sportsmen