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The Start
On September 12th, little James Cleveland Owens was born. His mother Mary Owens gave birth to James (Jesse) in Oakville, Alabama ("Jesse Owens Memorial Park"). -
Cleveland, Ohio
At age nine Jesse, along with his parents and nine brothers and sisters, moved to Cleveland, Ohio. They hoped for a brighter future and wanted to escape the defeating poverty they faced as sharecroppers living in Alabama ("Jesse Owens Memorial Park"). -
Coach Riley
Jesse meets a man named Charles Riley. Most knew him as, Coach Riley, the track and field Coach for East Technical High School. He began training Jesse at age fifteen, seeing the potential of an Olympic athlete. Jesse joined the track team at East Technical High School that year. ("Jesse Owens Memorial Park"). ("Jesse Owens | Photo Galleries"). -
East Technical High School
Jesse enrolls at East Technical High School. He joins the men's track and field team under Coach Riley ("Jesse Owens Biography" Bio.com) Picture of the Men's Track and Field team at East Technical High School ("Jesse Owens | Photo Galleries"). -
Adversity
A Letter from Walter White to Jesse Owens
NAACP Secretary writes a letter to Jesse urging him not to participate in 1936 Olympic (White, Walter). -
Olympics: 100 M Dash
Jesse Owens '36: 100 Meter Dash
At the 1936 Summer Olympics, Nazi leader Adolf Hitler believed that his "elite" set of German athletes would sweep the Track and Field events. Jesse Owens, representing the USA won four gold medals in one day. He won gold in broad jump, 100 meter, 200 meter, and the 4 by 100 meter relay ("Jesse Owens Memorial Park"). In this photography Jesse Owens begins his 200 Meter Dash in Berlin ("Jesse Owens"). -
Olympics: Broad Jump
Jesse Owens '36: Broad Jump
At the 1936 Summer Olympics, Nazi leader Adolf Hitler believed that his "elite" set of German athletes would sweep the Track and Field events. Jesse Owens, representing the USA won four gold medals in one day. He won gold in broad jump, 100 meter, 200 meter, and the 4 by 100 meter relay ("Jesse Owens Memorial Park"). Owens on the podium after winning the broad jump competition (Acme Newspictures, Inc). -
President Dwight D. Eisenhower
President Dwight D. Eisenhower called upon Owens as a ambassador. He sent the now world-renown track star to India, the Philippines, and Malaya to promote physical exercise and promote the United States. ("Encyclopedia of Cleveland History: Owens, Jesse."). Jesse Owens with a group of women in India.
("Jesse Owens | Photo Galleries"). -
Medal of Freedom
President Gerald Fold and First lady stand with Jesse Owens and Ruth Owens after Jesse is honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom ("Jesse Owens | Photo Galleries"). The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest honor the United States can bestow on a citizen ("Jesse Owens Memorial Park"). -
Death
On March 31st at the age of 66, Jesse Owens passed away from lung cancer. At the time his lived in Tucsan, Arizona ("Jesse Owens Biography" Biography Online). -
Jesse Owens Memorial Park
The Memorial Park was dedicated on June 29, in Oakville, Alabama the birthplace of Jesse. Created about sixteen years after Jesse's death the Memorial Park highlights and honors Jesse's accomplishments, throughout his life, both on and off the track. (Highsmith, Carol).
