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Henry and Mary Emma Owens gives birth to James Cleveland (J.C.) Owens in Oakville, Alabama.
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The Owens family moves to Cleveland, Ohio. James Cleveland Owens enrolls in Bolton Elementary School where he becomes known as "Jesse" (from "J.C.") Owens.
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Owens sets his first records in the high jump and long jump at Fairmount Junior High School under coach and life-long mentor, Charles Riley.
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Owens enrolls into Cleveland’s East Technical School. Riley follows as a volunteer assistant coach.
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Owens competes in the Midwestern preliminary trials at Northwestern University. Owens loses all three events in which he competes.
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Minnie Ruth gives birth to their first child, Gloria.
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Owens finishes first in 75 of the 79 competitions he enters. He breaks the long-jump record at the state interscholastic finals.
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At the National Championship in Chicago, Owens wins the long jump, sets a new world record in the 220-yard dash and ties the world record in the 100-yard dash.
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In his senior year at East Tech, Owens is voted as student body president as is made squad captain of the track team. He graduates on May 20, 1933.
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Owens enrolls in The Ohio State University.
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Owens sets world records in the 220-yard dash, 220-yard low hurdles and the long jump in less than one hour at the Big Ten Finals in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
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Owens is now being trained by Larry Snyder, the track coach at Ohio State. They work to improve his technique. He wins 3 out of 4 events at the Big Ten Conference in February of 1935, and then goes on to tie one world record and break five others at the Big Ten Championships in May
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Jesse Owens and Minnie Ruth Solomon get married.
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Owens finishes his last quarter at Ohio State before the Olympics.
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Owens participates in the Olympic tryout finals in New York, winning all three of his events (100m, 200m, and long jump).
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Owens wins four gold medals in the Olympic Games. He sets new world records in the 200 meter race (20.7 seconds), long jump (26 feet, 5 ¼ inches), and 400 meter relay (39.8 seconds), while tying the world record for 100 meter dash (10.3 seconds).
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Much to the dismay of Hitler, who wants to prove that the German race is better than everyone else, Owens becomes a popular and respected athlete at the games. He wins gold medals for the 100-meter race, the broad jump, the 200-meter race, and the 400-meter relay.
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The American Athletic Union (AAU) makes the winning athletes travel through Europe to help raise money. Tired from all the hard work, Owens leaves for the U.S. early. This angers the AAU. He can no longer compete in any amateur competition, including college events.
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Trying to use his new celebrity status, Owens hires an agent who finds a variety of events that Owens can compete in to make money. He gives talks, attends banquets, runs in mock races, etc. He continues these ventures for the next several years. Owens enjoys keeping himself busy.
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Ruth and Jesse’s second child, Beverly, is born
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Ruth and Jesse’s third child, Marlene, is born
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World War II begins and Owens is asked to set up exercise programs for African American youths for the Civil Defense Office. He is later hired by the Ford Motor Company as a personnel director to the black employees. He stays at Ford until the end of the war.
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Owens returns to OSU but he is soon placed on academic probation.
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Owens withdraws from Ohio State University
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Owens is appointed the Director of National Fitness by the U.S. Office of Civilian Defense.
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Ford Motor Co. hires Owens as Assistant Personnel Director of African-American workers. He is then promoted to director, then later works in public relations.
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The Associated Press names Owens the greatest track athlete of the past half-century
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Gloria, Owens’ eldest daughter, graduates from OSU.
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Owens travels to India, Philippines, and Malaysia to lead running clinics, but also to promote the economic and political freedoms of the United States.
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Owens and several other former U.S. Olympic champions attend the 1956 Summer Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia, as personal representatives of U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
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Owens becomes the training and running coach during spring training for the New York Mets baseball team.
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OSU awards Owens with an honorary doctorate of athletic arts "for his unparalleled skill and ability" as an athlete and for "his personification of sportsmanship ideals."
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Owens’ memoir, Blackthink: My Life as Black Man and White Man, is published
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Owens is inducted into the U.S. Track and Field Hall of Fame.
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President Gerald Ford presents Owens with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor given by the U.S. government
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Owen, a lifetime smoker dies from Lung cancer. He was 66 years old when he died
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The Jesse Owens Memorial Plaza is dedicated outside of Ohio Stadium.
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The Jesse Owens Story" debuts on television with actor Dorian Harewood playing Owens.
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Jesse Owens Park is Dedicated in Oakville, Alabama
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Ruth Owens dies at the age of 86.
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At a hearing held at OSU, state lawmakers hear testimony on why Owens should be chosen for a statue to be placed in the Nation Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol.
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An 8-foot black granite statue was unveiled in April of 2011, next to the Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium off Fred Taylor Drive at the edge of Ohio State’s athletic facilities.
