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Born in Oakvile, Alabama
Was born the tenth child of Mr. Henry Cleveland Owens and Mary Emma Owens. -
Family moves to Cleveland Ohio
Jesse Owens family moved in search of better opportunities during the Great Migration. -
Early Achievements
Attended Fairmont Junior High in Cleveland, Ohio where he set records in both the high and long jump. -
Moves on to East Cleveland Technical High
Set scholastic world records in the 220-yard dash, broad jump, and tied the world record in the 100 yard dash. -
Enrolled at Ohio State
Rose to international stardom by his sophomore year where “He recorded world indoor records in both the 60-meter dash and 60-yard dash and compiled 45 first-place, five second-place and four third-place finishes that season.” https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/jesse-owens/ -
Record Breaker
Jesse Owens at the “Western Conference (now Big Ten) Championships in Ann Arbor, Mich., in a span of only 45 minutes, Owens set three world records and tied a fourth.” https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/jesse-owens/ -
Marriage
Owens married his long time girlfriend Minnie Ruth Solomon -
Year of Jesse Owens
“Was undoubtedly the most premier track athlete in the entire world. Owens was undefeated in 42 events for Ohio State that season. He won four titles at the Western Conference Championships, four at the NCAA Championships, two at the N.A.A.U. Championships and three at the Olympic Trials.” https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/jesse-owens/ -
Berlin Olympics
“In the 1936 Olympics in Nazi-controlled Berlin, Germany. Owens shattered Hitler’s myth of Aryan superiority by winning gold medals in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, broad jump and as a member of the 4×100-meter relay team.” -
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Life After the Olympics
“In 1950, the Associated Press named Owens its Track Athlete of the First half-Century. In 1955, the State Department named him America’s “Ambassador of Sports.” Owens toured the world, and met with government and sports officials and promoting the virtues of amateur sports programs. In 1976, President Gerald Ford presented Owens with the nation’s highest civilian honor, the United States Medal of Freedom.” Owens served until his passing in 1980. https://library.osu.edu/site/jesseowens//