First American to win an Olympic medal in the javelin, earning the bronze in the 1924 Games. Broke NCAA and AAU records in his specialty while an undergraduate at the University of Notre Dame. Also was a star tackle for the Fighting Irish, playing on the line in front of the famed “Four Horseman” backfield. Later became Director of Athletics at John Carroll University, spending almost 50 years in the teaching profession.

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.