By James Nelson
Many younger readers may not know who Jesse Owens was, but in 1936 his name was known all over the world because of his achievements at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.
The Nazis, with Adolph Hitler as their leader, had come into power in Germany. Hitler expected to show the world that his Aryan racial superiority would triumph at the Olympics.
Jesse Owens, especially, shattered those dreams and expectations. Hitler was upset and criticized the United States for including black athletes in its lineup.
Son of a sharecropper, Jesse Owens was born in Alabama Sept. 12, 1913.
After graduating from East Technical High School in Cleveland, Ohio, he entered Ohio State University.
In a span of 45 minutes on May 25, 1935, he equaled the world record for the 100-yard dash (9.4 second) and then set world records in the long jump (26 feet 8 1/4 inches, a record that would last 25 years), the 220-yard spring (20.3 second) and the 220-yard low hurdles (22.6) during a Big Ten track meet.
Snubbed by Hitler, then FDR
Jesse Owens triumphed at the 1936 Olympics by winning four gold medals in the 100-meter, 200-meter, 400-meter relays and the long jump.
Hitler snubbed black American athletes at the Olympics, starting with Cornelius Johnson, who won the first gold medal for the high jump on opening day.
The fact that Hitler snubbed him did not bother Jesse Owens greatly; it was to be expected.
But he was hurt that his own President Franklin Delano Roosevelt chose to ignore his accomplishments.
New York City honored Jesse with a ticker tape parade, but he was never invited to the White house nor did he receive a congratulatory letter from the President, although other athletes were so recognized.
It was not until two decades later that Jesse Owens was honored by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who named him the "Ambassador of Sports."
In addition, President Gerald Ford awarded Jesse the Medal of Freedom in 1976.
A friend of Dr. T. Mitchell Bundrant
After the Olympics, in September 1936, Jesse Owens came to Monroe, N.Y., to visit his friend Dr. T. Mitchell Bundrant.
Dr. Bundrant was known throughout the United States and overseas for the advances he made in dentistry.
Dr. Bundrant was always involved in the betterment of his community as well. For instance, he was the first chairman of Smith's Clove Park.
A number of people in Monroe met with Jesse Owens while he was here and all enjoyed his visit to Monroe.
After leaving Monroe, Jesse Owens traveled to Boston and appeared at the Tremont Temple, which is a Baptist church. There he urged the people of Massachusetts to give their full support to Republican candidates in the upcoming elections.
At that meeting he was acclaimed by an audience of 1,500 people.
Jesse Owens died in Phoenix, Arizona, on March 31, 1980.
With the Olympics in session now, it is fitting to remember this outstanding, history-making American athlete.
James Nelson is the Monroe Town Historian.