News
June 18, 2008 -- Legendary North Idaho College Wrestling Coach John Owen to Receive Idaho Humanitarian Award
June 17, 2008 -- Gonzaga’s Mark Few Named 2008 Winner of Nell and John Wooden Coaching Achievement Award
Dec. 29, 2007 -- 1993 Heisman Winner Charlie Ward Receives World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame Tradition of Excellence Award
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Jesse Owens
Inducted: 2004
Induction Class: Jesse Owens (Track & Field), Jackie Robinson (Baseball), Babe Didrikson-Zaharias (Golf)
Sport: Olympic Games (Athletics)
Years Active: 1935-1936
Born: Sept. 12, 1913
(Died: Mar. 31, 1980)
Birthplace: Lawrence County, Alabama
Community Focus: Civil Rights, Education, Children & Youth
Foundation: Jesse Owens Foundation
Jesse Owens, winner of four track and field gold medals at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, was inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame as a part of the Class of 2004, which included track and field star Babe Didrikson-Zaharias and baseball pioneer Jackie Robinson.
Jesse Owens emerged as an exceptional track and field talent as a high school student when he tied the world record in the 100 yard dash with a time of 9.4 seconds. In 1935 he set a record at Ohio State University by winning eight individual NCAA championships (four each year). Also in 1935, Owens had an incredible 45 minute period in which he set three world records in the long jump, 220 yard dash, and 220 yard low hurdles, and again tied the 100 yard dash record. At the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Owens captured four gold medals in the 100m, the long jump, the 200m, and the 4x100m relay.
Owens was named America’s Ambassador of Sports, and traveled the world offering inspirational speeches to various groups, especially targeting children in underprivileged areas. Owens died of lung cancer in 1980 at age 66. The Jesse Owens Foundation was established after his death to help youth achieve their full potential through scholarship opportunities.