Blogged By: De De Tillman

Source: Los Angeles Times

Posted: Sunday November 4, 2012 @7:52 p.m PST

Milt Campbell,  the first African American to win a gold medal in the Olympic decathlon,  at the 1956 Melbourne Summer Games, has died. He was 78.

Campbell, who went on to play professional football before spending the rest of his career as a motivational speaker, died at his home in Gainesville, Ga., his family said. He had been battling cancer and diabetes. According to, Los Angeles Times.