Jesse Owens

Jesse Owens - The Buckeye Bullet (www.jesseowens.com/photos/)

Jesse Owens was a famous African American track and field runner. As a young teen, Jesse was seen by the track coach. With the help of this coach and other mentors, Jesse became a notorious runner. He became known as the Buckeye Bullet while running track at The Ohio State University. By overcoming a life of poverty and discrimination he became a great and successful athlete and person.

On September 12, 1913, James Cleveland Owens was born in Oakville, Alabama to Henry and Emma Owens. At the age of 9, his family moved to Cleveland, Ohio for the hope of a better life. During public school in Cleveland, J.C.'s teacher misinterpreted his name for Jesse because of his accent. He later became known as Jesse because of this. Since Jesse's parents were sharecroppers with 11 children, they were very poor. Jesse married Ruth Solomon at the age of 16 and later had three children by the names of Gloria, Beverly, and Marlene.

Jesse Owens - Buckeye Bullet (www.jesseowens.com/photos/)

While in junior high, the track coach, Charlie Riley saw that Jesse had talent in running and asked him to join the track team. Since Jesse worked many jobs after school to support his family, Coach Riley trained him in the mornings before school, so he could still be on the team. As he improved, he became a well known track star at East Technical High School. After high school, Jesse attended and ran track for The Ohio State University while enduring harsh discrimination. He then ran in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. After the Olympics, Jesse Owens ran professionally, spoke at various events, and started a business in public relations. Later in life, Jesse received the Medal of Freedom from President Ford in 1976 and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor after his death by President George Bush. Jesse Owens died on March 31, 1980 of lung cancer in Arizona.

Jesse Owens is my hero because even though he had a hard life he never gave up. He kept running and working hard to succeed. Since I am a runner, I look up to him and know that when things are tough, I can get through them and keep running and working toward my goals. I think it is extraordinary how Jesse Owens can be a good athlete while also thinking of others and not being self-centered. He is my role model because he found the good in life and let it shine.

My Hero, Jesse Owens, was not only a great runner, but he was also a great person. He achieved many things throughout his life, not only as an athlete, but also as a patriotic citizen. Not only did he do good things for himself, but also for his family, and youth throughout the United States. Even though he came from a poor family, he worked hard and succeeded in life. Jesse Owens accomplished his dreams with hard work and dedication and will always be known as an excellent runner.