Staten Island, NY - Josh Talbott is an 18-year old freshman on the Wagner College football team who has overcome staggering odds and is in the process of authoring an inspiring story. His mother was a crack addict and he's never met his father who has been in jail since Josh's birth. He became an orphan at seven years of age.
On August 18, 2011 Staten Island Advance columnist Cormac Gordon wrote an in-depth piece on Josh. Click HERE to read Gordon's column titled "Wagner College Freshman Receiver “Josh Talbott Has Two New Teams.” Another detailed story on Josh's life was penned by Palm Beach Post writer Jason Lieser on August 2, 2010. To read Lieser's story, click HERE. For a photo gallery click HERE.
Born in Atlanta, GA, Talbott, who is African-American, lived in various foster care homes, the most recent being Place of Hope, a Christian foster care ministry in Jupiter, FL. Talbott enrolled at Jupiter Christian High School and one day decided to go out for the football team. He quickly discovered that he was pretty good at the sport and that the sport gave him confidence.
Football also presented him with a new set of friends, the closest of which was Austin Talbott. Austin is 17 years old, white, and grew up in a suburban household, the son of Susan, a teacher, and Don, who is a construction contractor. Austin has two older sisters and is the youngest in his family by 12 years.
Josh began spending some time at the Talbott household and soon was sleeping over several times per week. Over time Josh also became close with Austin's parents and two sisters. Josh and Austin's friendship grew to the point where schoolmates would tease them, asking if they were brothers. That thought stayed with Austin until one day he asked his mother if they could adopt Josh.
Following days of soul-searching and introspective prayer, the Talbotts decided to grant Austin's wish and began the arduous legal process to bring Josh into their family. On April 6, 2010, Josh Gamble, as he was formerly known, officially became
Josh Talbott. And Josh and Austin officially became brothers.
Since the adoption, Josh has flourished in the classroom and on the football team. Josh's passion also includes missionary work, assisting other children born into backgrounds similar to his. So, for the last two summers, Josh has spent time in Romania, Budapest, and Vienna, assisting several groups of orphanages and foster families.
“It all started at my old school (Jupiter Christian) where we had to take a bible class and my bible teacher would have pictures of these little kids on the bulletin board,” Josh said. “After I started taking notice of them, my teacher started telling stories about them and some of the stories were about some of the stuff that I'd been through and it really motivated me to go over.
“It really touched me because I felt like I am really giving back to kids with a similar background to the one I had,” he added. “I feel like we all need to give back somewhere and help out. people that have been in the same position that I walked in. As soon as I get some time I'm willing to go back. Actually, I want to major in business or management, open up my own business and move it over to Romania. “
