Acclaimed as the greatest track and field star of the first half of the 20th century, Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics, winning individual titles in the 100 and 200-meter dashes and the long jump, setting Olympic records in each and running on the Olympic record-setting 400-meter relay team. As an Ohio State University sophomore he enjoyed perhaps the greatest single day in the history of track, tying the world record in the 100-yard dash and setting world marks in the 220-yard dash, the 220-yard low hurdles and the broad jump. At Cleveland East Tech he set three national high school marks.
Dominant U.S. heavyweight wrestler of the 1950s. Member of 1952, 1956 and 1960 U.S. Olympic Teams. Won National AAU free style championship eight consecutive years (1953-1960) and Greco-Roman title seven straight years before finishing second in 1960, ending string of 76 straight wins in national AAU competition. Pan-American Games gold medalist in 1955. Member of Helms Hall of Fame for Wrestling. Starred for Case Tech in wrestling, track and football, 1949-51, and is charter member of Case Western Reserve Athletic Hall of Fame.
Pan-American Games gold medalist in 1967. NCAA 191-pound champion in 1964 and runner-up at 177 pounds in 1963 at Ohio University where he won three Mid-American Conference championships compiled a career record of 76-3 and was named the University’s Athlete-of-the-Decade, 1960-70. Was Ohio high school champion at Parma High in 1954. As head wrestling coach at Ohio he guided team to seven consecutive conference championships.
Three-time National AAU champion (105.5 pounds), winning titles in 1973, ’74 and ’75 and being named to World Cup Team each of those years. Won silver medal representing United States in 1975 Pan-American Games. Ohio high school 103-pound champion in 1963 at Garfield Heights High and Mid-American Conference champion at 123 pounds in 1967 at Miami University of Ohio. Named captain and outstanding wrestler on both his high school and college teams.
Three-time Ohio school champion at Maple Heights High, 1967-68-69, going undefeated through high school career. Continued undefeated in Big Ten competition for four years at Michigan State University, first wrestler ever to accomplish this feat. NCAA 142-pound champion in 1972 and three-time collegiate All-American. Twice named to East-West Collegiate All-Star team, he was named the Outstanding Wrestler in the Big Ten in 1973 after winning his fourth consecutive conference title.
NCAA and Big Ten champion at Michigan State University, 1951. National AAU junior champion in 1948, national AAU runner-up in 1949 and 1950 and five-time Lake Erie AAU champion. Wrestling coach at Cleveland John Marshall High School 24 years, producing state championship team in 1961 and 13 individual state champions. Charter member of Ohio High School Wrestling Hall of Fame. Picked by amateur Wrestling News as Coach-of-the-Year, 1969.
Cleveland’s top amateur golfer during the late 1930s and ’40s, he won five district amateur championships, capturing his first title in 1938 and repeating in 1939-42-43 and 47. Also won the 1941 Cleveland District Golf Association championship in 1941 and was a Tournament of Champions titlist. Career covered era from 1937 to 1950.
One of Ohio’s best amateur golfers for over 40 years, he qualified for the National Amateur Championships more than 25 times, and was runner-up to Arnold Palmer for the title on one occasion. Won every Cleveland-area amateur crown, including dive District Amateur Championships (1935-36-40-47-51). Also won U.S. Seniors Gold Association Championship.
Member of the U.S. Curtis Cup Team in 1952 and 1954, she was runner-up for the Women’s Western in 1953 and 1954. Won seven Cleveland Women’s Gold Association championships between 1942 and 1973 and was the Ohio Women’s champion for times (1950-52-53-54). Also won the 1951 Women’s Doherty title.
One of the great woman athletes of her time, she was runner-up for the Women’s National Amateur title in 1925, won the Cleveland Women’s Amateur Championship four times (1931-32-34-35) and was a three time Ohio Women’s titlist. Also was a national women’s tennis champion during a memorable athletic career that lasted from 1924 to 1939.