November 11, 1997 Rodney Milburn, Jr., hall of fame track and field athlete, died. Milburn was born May 18, 1950 in Opelousas, Louisiana. He attended Southern University and during the early 1970s dominated the 110 meter hurdles, tying the world record three times. In 1971, he was unbeaten in 28 races and was named the […]
Tag Archives | Track and field
November 6th in African American History – Stan Wright
November 6, 1998 Stan Wright, hall of fame track and field coach, died. Wright was born August 11, 1921 in Englewood, New Jersey. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Springfield College and his master’s degree from Columbia University. In 1950, Wright began his coaching career at Texas Southern University. The TSU “Flying Tigers” became nationally […]
November 6th in African American History – George Lawrence “Larry” James
November 6, 1947 George Lawrence “Larry” James, hall of fame track and field athlete, was born in Mount Pleasant, New York. James started running track in the seventh grade and was a double medalist at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games. He won the Silver medal in the 400 meter race and the Gold medal […]
September 13th in African American History – Michael Duane Johnson
September 13, 1967 Michael Duane Johnson, world record holding track and field athlete, was born in Dallas, Texas. Johnson attended Baylor University where he won several NCAA championships in both indoor and outdoor sprints and relays. He graduated from Baylor in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in business. Johnson won Gold Medals at the 1992 […]
June 6th in African American History – Tommie Smith
June 6, 1944 Tommie Smith, former track and field athlete and professional football player, was born in Clarksville, Texas. Smith won a track scholarship to San Jose State University where in 1966 he set the world record in the 200-meter race. Also at San Jose State, Smith was a co-founder of the Olympic Project for […]
March 31st in African American History – James Cleveland “Jesse” Owens
March 31, 1980 James Cleveland “Jesse” Owens, Olympic track and field athlete, died. Owens was born September 12, 1913 in Oakville, Alabama. Owens attended Ohio State University where he won a record eight individual NCAA championships. Despite that success, he had to live off campus and was never offered a scholarship for his efforts. At […]
November 12th in African American History – Wilma Glodean Rudolph
November 12, 1994 Wilma Glodean Rudolph, the first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field during a single Olympic Games, died. Rudolph was born prematurely on June 23, 1940 in Clarksville, Tennessee. Despite a childhood filled with medical problems, she became an accomplished athlete by high school. In high school, she […]