Barney Ewell
Encyclopedia
Harold Norwood "Barney" Ewell (February 25, 1918 – April 4, 1996) was an American
athlete, winner of one gold and two silver medals at the 1948 Summer Olympics
.
Born into poverty in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
, Barney Ewell was one of the world's leading sprinters
of the 1940s. Mr. Ewell attended John Piersol McCaskey High School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. McCaskey High School honored Mr. Ewell by dedicating their stadium in his name. Mr. Ewell was also inducted into the J.P. McCaskey Athletic Hall of Fame during the school's 50th anniversary year in 1988.
He was the state's greatest high school sprinter-jumper in the mid-1930s, but he first achieved renown while a student at Pennsylvania State University
, running the 100 m and 200 m races and winning 12 gold medals and championships in collegiate meets between 1940 and 1942. He also won 11 gold medals in AAU
national meets between 1939 and 1948. He was an outstanding long jump
er as well, leaping 25 feet 2 inches (7.68 m) in 1942.
He served his country during the years 1941 - 1945, returned to the university and received his B.S. degree in 1947. He surprised everyone by making the 1948 Olympic team, equaling the world record
of 10.2 in the 100 m dash at the 1948 AAU championship, which was also the Olympic trials.
At the Olympic Games
in London
, he thought he had won the 100 m only to learn the victory was given to teammate Harrison Dillard
. In the 200 m, Ewell had another close finish and again finished second - this time to teammate Mel Patton
. He was added to the 4 x 100 m relay
when Ed Conwell
became sick and the American team rolled to an easy victory. However, the exchange between Ewell and Lorenzo Wright
was ruled out of the zone and the American team was disqualified. After viewing a film of the race, however, officials reversed the ruling, and Barney Ewell finally had his Olympic gold medal.
Barney Ewell took part in the Scottish Border games circuit during the summer of 1950. He lived most of those weeks in the town of Bathgate. He won one of the most prestigious sprints on the Border Games circuit at Jedburgh. Running off scratch over 120 yards he ran a time of 11.37 secs. He also took part in a special invitation race in August that same year to mark his time in Scotland (run as a handicap race) over 120 yards at the famous Powderhall venue. Barney from the scratch mark lost narrowly to Albert C Charles (off 12.5yds).
Barney Ewell died in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
. He was a member of the Omega Psi Phi
fraternity.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
athlete, winner of one gold and two silver medals at the 1948 Summer Olympics
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
.
Born into poverty in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
, Barney Ewell was one of the world's leading sprinters
Sprint (race)
Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...
of the 1940s. Mr. Ewell attended John Piersol McCaskey High School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. McCaskey High School honored Mr. Ewell by dedicating their stadium in his name. Mr. Ewell was also inducted into the J.P. McCaskey Athletic Hall of Fame during the school's 50th anniversary year in 1988.
He was the state's greatest high school sprinter-jumper in the mid-1930s, but he first achieved renown while a student at Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
, running the 100 m and 200 m races and winning 12 gold medals and championships in collegiate meets between 1940 and 1942. He also won 11 gold medals in AAU
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
national meets between 1939 and 1948. He was an outstanding long jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
er as well, leaping 25 feet 2 inches (7.68 m) in 1942.
He served his country during the years 1941 - 1945, returned to the university and received his B.S. degree in 1947. He surprised everyone by making the 1948 Olympic team, equaling the world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
of 10.2 in the 100 m dash at the 1948 AAU championship, which was also the Olympic trials.
At the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, he thought he had won the 100 m only to learn the victory was given to teammate Harrison Dillard
Harrison Dillard
William Harrison Dillard is an American track and field athlete, only the second male so far to win Olympic titles in both sprinting and hurdling events. Dillard was born in Cleveland, Ohio, attended East Technical High School...
. In the 200 m, Ewell had another close finish and again finished second - this time to teammate Mel Patton
Mel Patton
Melvin Emery "Mel" Patton is an American track and field athlete, who won two gold medals at the 1948 Summer Olympics.-Biography:...
. He was added to the 4 x 100 m relay
Relay race
During a relay race, members of a team take turns running, orienteering, swimming, cross-country skiing, biathlon, or ice skating parts of a circuit or performing a certain action. Relay races take the form of professional races and amateur games...
when Ed Conwell
Ed Conwell
Edward James "Irish" Conwell was a professional baseball player from 1909 to 1919. Primarily a third baseman, he appeared in one Major League Baseball game for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1911. He was 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighed 155 pounds.-Career:Conwell was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1890...
became sick and the American team rolled to an easy victory. However, the exchange between Ewell and Lorenzo Wright
Lorenzo Wright
Lorenzo Christopher Wright was a Detroit native and star athlete at Miller High School and Wayne State University; Wright is renowned for his noteworthy accomplishments in the sport of track and field....
was ruled out of the zone and the American team was disqualified. After viewing a film of the race, however, officials reversed the ruling, and Barney Ewell finally had his Olympic gold medal.
Barney Ewell took part in the Scottish Border games circuit during the summer of 1950. He lived most of those weeks in the town of Bathgate. He won one of the most prestigious sprints on the Border Games circuit at Jedburgh. Running off scratch over 120 yards he ran a time of 11.37 secs. He also took part in a special invitation race in August that same year to mark his time in Scotland (run as a handicap race) over 120 yards at the famous Powderhall venue. Barney from the scratch mark lost narrowly to Albert C Charles (off 12.5yds).
Barney Ewell died in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
. He was a member of the Omega Psi Phi
Omega Psi Phi
Omega Psi Phi is a fraternity and is the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. The founders were three Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos...
fraternity.