Mal Whitfield
Encyclopedia
Malvin "Mal" Greston Whitfield (born October 11, 1924) is a former American
athlete, a double winner of 800 m at the Olympic Games
. Mal Whitfield is the father of CNN
anchor Fredricka Whitfield
and of Olympic high jump hopeful Ed (Edward Malvin Whitfield) Wright.
Born in Bay City, Texas
, Mal Whitfield, or Marvelous Mal as he was called, joined the United States Army Air Force in 1943, and is a member of the Tuskegee Airmen
. After World War II
, he remained in the U.S. military but also enrolled at the Ohio State University
. In the early 1950s he also served in the United States Air Force
during the Korean War
.
He won the NCAA
title while at Ohio State in the 800 m in 1948 and 880 yd (804.7 m) in 1949. After leaving the university he won the AAU
title from 1949 to 1951 at 800 m, in 1953 and 1954 at 880 yd (804.7 m) and in 1952 at 400 m. He also won the 800 m at the 1951 Pan American Games
in Buenos Aires
, Argentina
.
Whitfield's most notable achievements, however, may have been as an Olympic athlete. At the 1948 Olympics
in London
, Whitfield won the 800 m and was a member of the winning 4 × 400 m relay
team. He also earned a bronze medal in the 400 m. At the 1952 Olympics
in Helsinki
, Finland
, he repeated his 800 m victory. He also earned a silver medal as a member of U.S 4 × 400 m relay team. He set a world record
in 880 yd (804.7 m) of 1:49.2 in 1950 and dropped it to 1:48.6 in 1952.
In 1954 Whitfield won the James E. Sullivan Award
, given annually by the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States (AAU) to the outstanding amateur athlete in the country. He was the first black athlete to win the award. Whitfield narrowly missed making the 1956 Olympic
team while a student at California State University, Los Angeles
and he retired from track competition shortly thereafter. After graduating he worked for the U.S. State Department, conducting sports clinics in Africa
.
In his 47 years in Africa, Whitfield trained and gave consultation to dozens of athletes who represented their countries as Olympians and All-Africa Games
champions. Whitfield also arranged sports scholarships for over 5,000 African athletes to study in the United States.
During his career as a diplomat extraordinaire, he traveled to over 132 countries and played a key role in training and developing African athletes. The late U.S. President Ronald Reagan
wrote of him: "Whether flying combat missions over Korea, or winning gold medal after gold medal at the Olympics, or serving as an ambassador of goodwill among the young athletes of Africa, you have given your all. This country is proud of you, and grateful to you." Shortly after his retirement from government service in 1989, "Marvelous Mal" was invited to the Oval Office, where President George H.W. Bush recognized his exemplary service to the nation and the world.
Whitfield was inducted into the Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame
in 1978. Among track and field athletes, only Jesse Owens
had been inducted before him.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
athlete, a double winner of 800 m 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...
. Mal Whitfield is the father of CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
anchor Fredricka Whitfield
Fredricka Whitfield
Fredricka Whitfield is a news room reporter for CNN. She anchors the weekend versions of CNN Newsroom and sometimes substitutes for anchors during weekdays. She is the daughter of Olympian Mal Whitfield.- Education :...
and of Olympic high jump hopeful Ed (Edward Malvin Whitfield) Wright.
Born in Bay City, Texas
Bay City, Texas
Bay City is a city in Matagorda County, Texas, United States. The population was 18,667 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Matagorda County. The current mayor is Mark Bricker.-Geography:Bay City is located at...
, Mal Whitfield, or Marvelous Mal as he was called, joined the United States Army Air Force in 1943, and is a member of the Tuskegee Airmen
Tuskegee Airmen
The Tuskegee Airmen is the popular name of a group of African American pilots who fought in World War II. Formally, they were the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the U.S. Army Air Corps....
. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he remained in the U.S. military but also enrolled at the Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
. In the early 1950s he also served in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.
He won the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
title while at Ohio State in the 800 m in 1948 and 880 yd (804.7 m) in 1949. After leaving the university he won the 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...
title from 1949 to 1951 at 800 m, in 1953 and 1954 at 880 yd (804.7 m) and in 1952 at 400 m. He also won the 800 m at the 1951 Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
Whitfield's most notable achievements, however, may have been as an Olympic athlete. At the 1948 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...
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...
, Whitfield won the 800 m and was a member of the winning 4 × 400 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...
team. He also earned a bronze medal in the 400 m. At the 1952 Olympics
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, he repeated his 800 m victory. He also earned a silver medal as a member of U.S 4 × 400 m relay team. He set a 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...
in 880 yd (804.7 m) of 1:49.2 in 1950 and dropped it to 1:48.6 in 1952.
In 1954 Whitfield won the James E. Sullivan Award
James E. Sullivan Award
The James E. Sullivan Award, presented by the American Amateur Athletic Union , is awarded annually in April to "the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States". Often referred to as the Oscar of sports awards, it was first presented in 1930. The award is named for the AAU's founder and past...
, given annually by the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States (AAU) to the outstanding amateur athlete in the country. He was the first black athlete to win the award. Whitfield narrowly missed making the 1956 Olympic
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
team while a student at California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Los Angeles is a public comprehensive university, part of the California State University system...
and he retired from track competition shortly thereafter. After graduating he worked for the U.S. State Department, conducting sports clinics in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
.
In his 47 years in Africa, Whitfield trained and gave consultation to dozens of athletes who represented their countries as Olympians and All-Africa Games
All-Africa Games
The All-Africa Games, sometimes called the African Games or the Pan African Games, are a regional multi-sport event held every four years, organized by the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa...
champions. Whitfield also arranged sports scholarships for over 5,000 African athletes to study in the United States.
During his career as a diplomat extraordinaire, he traveled to over 132 countries and played a key role in training and developing African athletes. The late U.S. President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
wrote of him: "Whether flying combat missions over Korea, or winning gold medal after gold medal at the Olympics, or serving as an ambassador of goodwill among the young athletes of Africa, you have given your all. This country is proud of you, and grateful to you." Shortly after his retirement from government service in 1989, "Marvelous Mal" was invited to the Oval Office, where President George H.W. Bush recognized his exemplary service to the nation and the world.
Whitfield was inducted into the Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame
Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame
The Ohio State Varsity "O" Hall of Fame is the athletic hall of fame for The Ohio State University. Its purpose is to recognize individuals who have contributed to the honor and fame of the University in the field of athletics....
in 1978. Among track and field athletes, only Jesse Owens
Jesse Owens
James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens was an American track and field athlete who specialized in the sprints and the long jump. He participated in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, where he achieved international fame by winning four gold medals: one each in the 100 meters, the 200 meters, the...
had been inducted before him.