Huffman Trcking

Paul Lujan

8-2

1/30/12

Jessie Owens was born September 12, 1913 in Alabama he was born a son of share cropper and the grandson of a slave he was also a very sickly child his lungs were very weak his parents thought he would die when he was nine years old his family moved to Cleveland Ohio, his athletic career began In Ohio when his coach asked him to run by at first Jessie was not able to run very far but as he ran more and more he was able to run for longer distances he was able to jump higher, by running he was also strengthening his lungs. He set 3 world records while at the Big ten championships in Ann Arbor on May 25, 1935. While Jessie was running in Germany Hitler attended his races to see one of his competitors win when Jessie owns beat him Hitler was furious, people say he kicked out his runner for losing the race. Jessie Owens was an inspirational speaker; he was also a public relations representative and consultant to many corporations such as, Atlantic Richfield, Ford, U.S. Olympic Committee. In 1976 Jessie Owens was awarded the highest civilian award in the U.S the Medal of Freedom, in 1979 President Carter awarded him the Living Legend award, President Carter called Jessie a "Young man who possibly didn't even know the superb nature of his own capabilities". Jessie owns died of complications due to lung cancer on March 31, 1980 Tucson, Arizona, words of sorrow sympathy and admiration poured in from all over the world. His daughters work with a foundation called the Jessie Owens foundation which provides financial support, assistance, and services to young individuals with unseen potential. Jessie Owens accomplished many tasks such as having tied national high school records in the 10 and 200 yard dashes and the long jump, his junior year at Ohio State, Owens competed in 42 events and won them all including 4 in the big ten championships, four in the NCAA championships, two in the AAU championships and three at the Olympic trials. Owens traveled widely in his post Olympic days, Jessie Owens was also sought to address youth groups, professional organizations, civic meetings, sports banquets, PTAs, church organizations, and black history programs, as well as high school and college commencements and ceremonies. Owens has also participated in boys' guidance activities, made goodwill visits to India and East Asia for the U.S. Department of State, served as secretary of the Illinois State Athletic Commission,