AKA James Cleveland Owens

Born: 12-Sep-1913
Birthplace: Oakville, AL
Died: 31-Mar-1980
Location of death: Phoenix, AZ
Cause of death: Cancer - Lung
Remains: Buried, Oak Woods Cemetery, Chicago, IL

Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: Black
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Track and Field

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: Four track and field medals in 1936 Olympics

Son of a sharecropper and grandson of slaves, who won four Gold Medals at the Berlin Olympics in 1936.

"When I came back to my native country, after all the stories about Hitler, I couldn't ride in the front of the bus. I had to go to the back door. I couldn't live where I wanted. I wasn't invited to shake hands with Hitler, but I wasn't invited to the White House to shake hands with the President, either."

Father: Henry Owens (sharecropper)
Mother: Emma Owens
Wife: Ruth Solomon (m. 10-Aug-1935, until his death, three children)
Daughter: Marlene

    High School: Cleveland East Tech High School, Cleveland, OH
    University: Ohio State University

    Olympic Gold Medal 1936 (four medals)
    Associated Press Athlete of the Year (male) 1936
    Alabama Sports Hall of Fame 1970
    Presidential Medal of Freedom 1976
    US Olympic Hall of Fame
    Traveled to Nazi Germany Munich Olympics (1936)
    Ticker-Tape Parade 1936
    Asteroid Namesake 6758 Jesseowens

    FILMOGRAPHY AS ACTOR
    Salute (17-Jul-2008) · Himself

Official Website:
http://www.jesseowens.com/

Author of books:
The Jesse Owens Story (1970)

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