Joe McGhee
{{short description|Scottish marathon runner}}
{{For|the American politician|Joseph McGhee}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
|name = Joseph McGhee
|image =
|image_size =
|caption =
|birth_date = {{birth date| 1929|7|9|df=yes}}
|birth_place = Falkirk, Scotland
|death_date = {{death date and age |2015|4|17|1929|7|9|df=yes}}
|headercolor = lightsteelblue
|country = {{SCO}}
|sport = Marathon
|show-medals = yes
|medaltemplates =
{{MedalCountry | {{SCO}} }}
{{MedalGold|1954 Vancouver|Marathon}}
}}
Joseph McGhee (9 July 1929 – 17 April 2015){{cite news|url= https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/news/obituary-joe-mcghee-falkirk-s-gold-medal-winning-king-of-the-road-1-3752183| title= Obituary: Joe McGhee, Falkirk’s gold medal-winning ‘King of the Road’ | work=Falkirk Herald| date=25 April 2015| accessdate=7 March 2018}} was a Scottish marathon runner, who won a gold medal at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver, Canada.
Career
McGhee was a member of Shettleston Harriers athletics club,{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75860316/joe-mcghee-1994/| title=Sixth Column| work=The Guardian| via=Newspapers.com| date=6 August 1994| page=15| accessdate=16 April 2021}} and also the Glasgow University Hares and Hounds.{{cite news| url=https://www.scottishathletics.org.uk/joe-mcghee-scotlands-1954-hero/| title=Joe McGhee – Scotland's 1954 hero| work=Scottish Athletics| date=21 April 2015| accessdate=24 December 2021}}
McGhee won the marathon event at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver, Canada. The event was run in sublime heat, and Englishman Jim Peters had been leading the race by 17 minutes coming into the stadium, but collapsed. Only six runners finished the race,{{cite news| url= https://www.scotsman.com/sport/athletics/scottish-marathon-runner-joe-mcghee-dies-aged-86-1-3747414| title= Scottish marathon runner Joe McGhee dies aged 86 | work=The Scotsman| date=20 April 2015| accessdate=7 March 2018}}{{cite news| url= http://www.vancouversun.com/touch/sports/marathon+lost+shadows+1954+empire+games/10064208/story.html|title= Marathon Man was lost in the shadows of the 1954 Empire Games|last=Kingston| first=Gary| work=The Vancouver Sun| date=26 July 2014| accessdate=7 March 2018}} out of 16 starters. McGhee had been the only Scot in the race, and his victory was overshadowed in the press by coverage of Peters' collapse.{{cite news| url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75860390/justifying-his-selection/| title=Justifying his selection...| work=The Observer| via=Newspapers.com| date=5 November 2000| page=288| accessdate=16 April 2021}} McGhee won the 1954, 1955 and 1956 Scottish National Championships, making him the first Scotsman to win three successive marathon championships. Fraser Clyne later achieved the same feat in 1992–94.{{cite web| url= http://www.lochnessmarathon.com/2015/09/champions-return-for-baxters-loch-ness-marathon/| title= CHAMPIONS RETURN FOR 2015 BAXTERS LOCH NESS MARATHON| publisher=Loch Ness Marathon| date=2 September 2015| accessdate=7 March 2018}}
Personal life
McGhee attended St Francis' RC Primary school, and St Modan's High School in Stirling. He later studied at the University of Glasgow from 1946 until 1951. McGhee later became a flight lieutenant in the RAF.{{cite news| url= http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12733974.Sound_of_McGhee_apos_s_marathon_silence_now_spans_all_of_40_years___And_he_still_won_apos_t_discuss_win_over_a_man_____________called_Peters/| title= Sound of McGhee's marathon silence now spans all of 40 years. And he still won't discuss win over a man called Peters| work=The Herald| date=6 August 1994| accessdate=7 March 2018}} McGhee also worked as a teacher, during which time he taught Mike Ryan. Ryan later said he thought of McGhee as he won his bronze medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.{{cite news| url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11933453| title= Mike's Turkish delight| work=The New Zealand Herald| date=16 October 2017| accessdate=7 March 2018}} McGhee wrote an autobiography entitled The Forgotten Winner, which has now been published.
He married in 1960, and has five children, six grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions Marathon Men}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:McGhee, Joe}}
Category:Scottish male marathon runners
Category:British male marathon runners
Category:Sportspeople from Falkirk
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Scotland
Category:Alumni of the University of Glasgow
Category:20th-century Royal Air Force personnel
Category:People educated at St Modan's High School
Category:Medallists at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games