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Timeline
1912 - 1927
In September 1913 Jesse Owens was bron in Oakville Alabama and by 1919 Jesse was working in the fields and going to shool.
Off to Ohio
Later on in 1922 Jesse and his family moved to Clevland Ohio in hopes of a better life with Jesse's sister already having work there.
1927 - 1933
When Jesse was in high school he met some very influential people that encouraged him to run, like Charles Riley, Jesse's coach that he meat at Fairmount
1927
At Fairmount Junior High, Jesse met Charles Riley, the athletics coach. Riley took an interest in the young boy, training him to run in the early mornings before school so Jesse could work in the afternoons.
1932
Jesse Owens was being recognized as a good runner. He won many of his races and in the summer of 1932, he tries out for the Olympic team, only to get nervous and lose three big races.
1933
The start of Jesse's time at East Technical High was not a good one. Jesse's father breaks his leg and cannot work. His brothers also lose their jobs aswell. Jesse wanted to quit school to help, but his mother wants him to stay. He attends East Technical High, where Riley becomes assistant coach and continues to work with the young athlete.
1935 - 1936
After graduating east tech and moving on to Ohio state Jesse is now being trained by Larry Snyder, the track coach at Ohio State. They work to improve his technique. Jesse wins 3 out of 4 events at the Big Ten Conference in February of 1935, and then goes on to tie one world record and break five others at the Big Ten Championships in May.
July 5, 1935
In between track meets, Jesse marries his long time girlfriend Ruth Solomon. Poor grades keep him from competing in the winter season at Ohio State, but he is able to come back in the spring of 1936. Jesse then proceeded to break the 100 yard dash record with a time of 10.2 seconds.
June 1936
Although some athletes talk about avoiding the 1936 Olympics in Germany in protest of Adolf Hitler, the U.S. decides to compete. Owens performs well at the tryouts and becomes one of nineteen African American athletes to be part of the U.S. Olympic Team.
Augest 8 1936
Jesse Owens quickly becomes a popular and respected athlete at the games. He won gold medals for the 100-meter race, the long jump, the 200-meter race, and the 400-meter relay.
Augest 1936
The American Athletic Union (AAU) makes the winning athletes travel through Europe to help raise money. Tired from all the hard work, Jesse leaves for the U.S. early. This angered the AAU and they declared that He can no longer compete in any amateur competition, including college events.
1936 - 1980
In an attempt to make money, Jesse tries to earn some money. Jesse hires an agent who found a variety of events that Jesse was able to compete in to make money. He gave talks, attended banquets, ran in mock races, etc. He continued these ventures for the next several years.
1940
World War II began and Jesse is asked to set up exercise programs for African American youths for the Civil Defense Office. He was later hired by the Ford Motor Company as a personnel director to the black employees. He stayed at Ford until the end of the war.
1945
Jesse kept working with many companies, promoting products and giving speeches. He liked being busy, traveling many places. In 1970 he wrote a book called, Blackthink: My Life as a Black Man and White Man. He wrote another book in 1972 called, I Have Changed.
1980
In 1979 Owens was diagnosed with lung cancer. He died on March 31, 1980 in Tuscon, Arizona. Jesse Owens will always be remembered as an inspiration to future athletes everywhere.