Jesse Owens
James Cleveland Owens
1913-1980
Facts in Brief
Birth:September 12, 1913, in Danville, Alabama
Died: March 31, 1980
Education: Cleveland's East Technical High School
James Cleveland Owens was born on September 12, 1913, in Danville, Alabama. He was one of the eight children in his family. He was only six years old, when the Owens family moved north to Cleveland, Ohio. They moved from Danville, Alabama to seek a better living. (Lincoln Library, pg.6)
J. C. Owens attended East Technical High School. But he had not lost the Alabama accent. When his teacher asked his name, he said, "J.C." But the teacher thought, "Jesse". Too shy to correct her, "Jesse". From now on James Cleveland , became Jesse. (Lincoln Library, pg.6)
When the young southern boy first ran in a junior high school track practice, the coach looked in amazement at the time on his stop watch. He checked the stop watch to see if it was broken or something. (Lincoln Library, pg.7)
During his years at Cleveland's East Technical High School, Jesse Owens became nationally known. He tied a world record in the dash, and in the broad jump. At a national high school track meet in Chicago, during Jesse's Senior year, he won the 100-yard dash in 9.4 seconds, the broad jump with a leap of 24 feet, 9 1/2 inches.
After high school, he went to Ohio State University in Columbus. Because he did not have a scholarship he had to work full time. Jesse continued to work and still did good in school. His athletic performance continued.
Coach Larry Snyder knew he had a very talented and gifted athlete. But Snyder knew that Owens still needed some improvement. As a runner, Owens' arm movement was too short. In the broad jump, he did not start right, and his jump was not smooth. He also needed to work on his starts and endurance. (Lincoln Library, pg.6)
Owens began to work hard and to perfect his skills to become a better athlete. In 1934, in his first collegiate season, Owens set a world indoor record in the Broad jump. He also tied the world indoor mark in the 60-yard dash. During the outdoor season, he won the National Amateur Union (AAU) title in the broad jump.
At Ohio State, Owens continued to excel as an athlete. When he was a sophomore, Owens had a very special day on May 25, 1935, at a Big Ten track and field meet in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Although Owens was complaining of his sore back from a fight he had recently been in, he broke three track and field records, in the broad jump, the 220-yard dash, and the 220-low hurdles, while matching the world's record for the 100-yard dash. He accomplished all of this in 75 minutes of one afternoon.
After his Olympic victory, Owens won the Associated Press's Athlete of the Year citation. By this time, he and his wife had had a child and were expecting a second (they eventually had three daughters). He could not afford to finish school, and he was only able to find a job as a $30-a-week Cleveland playground instructor. He eventually earned his tuition by racing against a horse.
Later, his name was used to promote a chain of cleaning stores, and he was made full partner in the operation, returning him enough income to buy a new house. But the business suddenly went bankrupt and his partners deserted him, leaving him with a $55,000 debt. He managed to pay off this and his others debts by recruiting black workers for Ford Motor Company during World War II.
Owens eventually settled in Chicago. By this time he had become a charismatic public speaker, and traveled extensively, speaking about sports, civil rights and his own life. In 1955, President Eisenhower named him Ambassador of Sports, and he toured for he State Department around the world. Later, he started a jazz radio program and developed a public relations agency, finally achieving financially security.
In 1971, as a result of health problems, Owens retired and moved to Phoenix. He died of lung cancer on March 31, 1980.
The official website of Jesse Owens
This is another link to information about Jesse Owens
This is where I got most of my information for my Web Page
Work Cited
1) James Owens. The Lincoln Library of Sports Champions. fourth Ed. Vol. 14. Columbus, Ohio: Frontier Press Co., 1985. 4-11.
2) James Owens. Encyclopedia of World Biography. Second Ed. Vol. 12. Detroit: Gale, 1998. 43-44.
3) James Owens. The Biographical Dictionary of Black Americans. Author: Rachel Kranz, Detroit: Gale, 1998. 111-112.
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Created By: Jesse R. and Bryce G.