Notable Journalist Paul Harvey strikes again

[Guest]

Nobel Prize contender journalist, Paul Harvey (according to "It is to Laugh" on this board) has reared his track knowledge again. This morning, he related another Jesse Owens story. According to Paul, Owens was presented with a present from the German people in honor of his wonderful performance. The gift was presumably an oak tree which he supposedly planted on the Ohio State campus upon return to the U.S. Again, according to Harvey, the people of Ohio State are aware of the story and have reason to believe it is true and was planted near the present library, but are not sure which tree or if the tree in question even lived at this point. I am assuming that it was not given to him by the German government. Has anyone heard this story before and if so, who exactly presented Owens with the gift of gratitude that may or may not live to this day?

[gh]

Re: Notable Journalist Paul Harvey strikes again

Harvey is truly an "it is to laugh" kind of guy, but even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once in a while. How approriate this is an oak tree story!!! :-)

It's true. All gold medalists were given year-old potted oaks. (whether they were "from the German people" or not, I can't say)

Tom Ecker in "Olympic Facts & Fables" says that 16 of the 130 oaks were still growing as of 2000, in 8 different countries. According to Ecker, two of Owens' trees are still alive. One's next to a HS track in Cleveland, the other is on the USC campus, because he shared it with his relay teammates.

I seem to recall that one was cut down when they enlarged the Ohio State football stadium. Anybody cast any light on that chestnut? (to mix a metaphor)

[Guest]

Re: Notable Journalist Paul Harvey strikes againAjax L east

<Tom Ecker in "Olympic Facts & Fables" says that 16 of the 130 oaks were still growing as of 2000, in 8 different countries.>

I recall from the 1950s in London (UK), that Hendon Grammar School had one of those oaks growing, called the Whitlock Oak (presented to Harold Whitlock, 50K walk? winner in Berlin). GH has referred to two of the trees still growing - anyone out there know where some of the others are?

[Guest]

Re: Notable Journalist Paul Harvey strikes again

>One's next to a HS track
>in Cleveland

Can anyone shed some light on this one? I'd like to go see it.

[gh]

Re: Notable Journalist Paul Harvey strikes again

Rhodes High

[Guest]

Re: Notable Journalist Paul Harvey strikes again

gh, Why Rhodes? I am fairly sure that Owens went to East Tech. Interestingly, I believe that Rhodes was coached for years by Stella Walsh. What HS did Harrison Dillard attend?

[gh]

Re: Notable Journalist Paul Harvey strikes again

Rhodes? Beats the heck out of me. Just reporting what I read. James Ford Rhodes HS to be precise!

Yes, both Owens and Dillard went to East Tech

[Jefferson Buffalo]

Re: Notable Journalist Paul Harvey strikes again

>Rhodes? Beats the heck out of me. Just reporting
what I read. James Ford Rhodes HS to be precise!

Yes, both Owens and Dillard went to East Tech<


I guess neither of them was a Rhodes scholar.

[Guest]

Re: Notable Journalist Paul Harvey strikes again

>Rhodes? Beats the heck out of me. Just reporting
>what I read. James Ford Rhodes HS to be
>precise!

Yes, both Owens and Dillard went to
>East Tech

Along with Dave Albritton ('36 HJ silver), Vivian Brown Reed (2x world ranked in 200), Ricky Pittman (5x US ranked steepler) and Aki Bradley (US #9 in 200, '94). East Tech is a vocational school which can draw from the entire east side of Cleveland, so they've often had their pick of the best jocks in town. Rhodes, however, is on the west side, but Owens was always generous with things so I believe it even though it doesn't make much sense.

Anyway, I'll get some photos the nest time I'm by the Burning River and post them on my website. Not the most exciting thing, but then the tree is still alive and Owens isn't.

By the way, Cleveland knows its track. There's Jesse Owens Junior High, the Harrison Dillard bikeway, and Stella Walsh Recreation Center.

[dj]

Re: Notable Journalist Paul Harvey strikes again

Another surviving tree is the Woodruff Oak in Connellsville, Pa., which I believe was planted on the front lawn of the high school where Woodruff went to school.

[Guest]

Re: Notable Journalist Paul Harvey strikes again

East Tech was not always a vocational school was it? I do know that in the 70's they had a 50% daily absentee rate. A tough school. Don't forget Ray Marks in the list of Scarab alum. He was a 1:50 state champion who ran at the same time as Pittman. A '79 grad, Ray went on to Kansas. I know he ran indoor as a frosh (sub 1:50), but never heard anything more from him.