January 31, 1967 Thomas Edward Tolan, “the Midnight Express” and two-time Gold medal winning Olympian, died. Tolan was born September 29, 1908 in Denver, Colorado and moved with his family to Detroit, Michigan when he was 15 years old. Tolan attended Cass Technical High School where he set state records in the 100 and 220-yard […]
Tag Archives | Olympics
November 16th in African American History – Zina Lynna Garrison
November 16, 1963 Zina Lynna Garrison, professional tennis player, was born in Houston, Texas. Garrison started playing tennis at the age of 10 and entered her first tournament at the age of 12. In 1981, she won the Wimbledon and US Open Junior titles and was ranked the World Number 1 junior player. Garrison turned […]
October 30th in African American History – John Youie Woodruff
October 30, 2007 John Youie Woodruff, Olympic champion, died. Woodruff was born July 5, 1915 in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. As a 21 year old college freshman, Woodruff won the 800 meter Gold Medal at the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympic Games.
October 25th in African American History – Abebe Bikila
October 25, 1973 Abebe Bikila, two-time Olympic marathon champion, died. Bikila was born August 7, 1932 in the village of Jato, Ethiopia. At the 1960 Rome Olympic Games, Bikila won the marathon in world record time, becoming the first Black African to win an Olympic Gold Medal.
October 11th in African American History – Malvin Greston Mal Whitfield
October 11, 1924 Malvin Greston “Mal” Whitfield, track athlete and diplomat, was born in Bay City, Texas. In 1943, Whitfield joined the United States Army Air Force and became a member of the Tuskegee Airmen with whom he flew 27 combat missions during the Korean War. After World War II he enrolled at Ohio State […]
Edwin Corley Moses – August 31st in African American History
August 31, 1955 Edwin Corley Moses, former track and field athlete, was born in Dayton, Ohio. Moses attended Morehouse College on an academic scholarship and earned his B. S. degree in 1976. While at Morehouse, Moses essentially trained himself. Between 1977 and 1987, Moses won 122 consecutive 400 meter hurdles races. He won Gold Medals […]