Jesse Owens was a famous runner who was an Olympic champion.  However, he had a difficult childhood and then, as an adult, even though he was an Olympic champion, he had trouble making a living because he was an African American.  He died without much money in 1980, much the same as he started as a young boy.           

James Cleveland Owens was born to a poor, black family whose parents were share croppers and struggled to raise seven children.  James (J.C.) was born on September 12, 1913 in the small town of Oakville, Alabama to Henry and Emma Owens.  He also had six brothers and sisters in his family.  The children were taught to read and write in a one room house in Alabama.  When J. C. was nine, his family moved to Cleveland, Ohio in hopes his dad would find a better job and J. C. was enrolled in a public school.  The teacher misunderstood J. C.’s southern accent and thought he was saying his name was Jesse.  From then on, he was called Jesse.  Jesse took up some extra jobs such as loading freight cars and delivering groceries to help the family out because his dad’s job was not as profitable as they had hoped it would be.  During this time, Jesse discovered he loved running.  Running was the turning point in Jesse’s life.           

Jesse Owens' Olympic career began when his running talents were recognized in high school by his gym teacher.  Soon he was setting world records such as in the 100 yard dash when he tied with someone else at 9.4 seconds.  He also set a world record in Chicago while leaping 24 feet 9 5/8 inches in a broad jump.  Although recruited by many colleges, Jesse decided to attend Ohio State University where he would face some of his hardest competition in track and also encounter many difficult experiences due to his skin color.  Despite these problems, Jesse managed to set three world records in 45 minutes at the Big Ten meet in 1935 in Ann Arbor.  These three world records, along with tying for a fourth were all accomplished with a hurt back that he had injured earlier in the week when he fell down a flight of stairs.  That same year, Jesse married Ruth Solomon, his high school sweetheart.  In 1936, Jesse competed in the Munich Olympics and won four gold medals in track and field - which had never been done before in one Olympics.
After the Olympics, Jesse tried to make a living for his family by running races against people, horses and cars.  However, he never earned very much money like today’s Olympic champions do because he was African American and people were very prejudiced at that time.  Jesse soon had 3 girls, Gloria, Beverly, and Marlene, who he loved very much.  Jesse was a family man and he was loved by his family.  He also gained respect from others as he traveled around the country speaking about the importance of working hard and stressing the importance of religion.  Jesse Owens died of lung cancer on March 31, 1980 while in Tucson, Arizona. 

Jesse Owens is remembered for his talents as an Olympic athlete and also for overcoming many difficult obstacles in his life.  He taught so many the importance of hard work and how we should keep trying if we don’t accomplish something the first time we try.  Jesse Owens is remembered and honored today by his family and the many visitors who come to see the home place of Jesse Owens in Oakville, Alabama.  His home place has been made into a wonderful museum that teaches many the importance of working hard to overcome obstacles in your life. 

Jesse Owens Biography.  15 Oct 2008.  <http://www.jesseowens.info>

Jesse Owens Memorial Park.  15 Oct 2008.  <http://www.jesseowensmuseum.org>

Jesse Owens:  Track and Field Legend.  Jason Wendel, Project Manager.  24 July 2007.  CMG Worldwide.  15 Oct 2008.  http://www.jesseowens.com

The Jesse Owens Foundation.  1999-2000.  The Jesse Owens Foundation.  29 Oct 2008.  <http://www.jesse-owens.org