In May, a new plaque honoring Jesse Owens will be unveiled at Ferry Field in Ann Arbor. The International Athletics Foundation, an organization that preserves historic track and field moments, has created the plaque to replace the one that was once there.
Jesse Owens made history at Ferry Field during the 1935 conference championships when he broke multiple world records in quick succession despite battling an injury. His remarkable achievements in the 100-yard dash, long jump, 220-yard dash, and 220-yard low hurdles are still remembered today. Owens went on to win four gold medals at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, with Adolph Hitler in attendance.
The original plaque dedicated to Jesse Owens at Ferry Field in 1985 will be replaced by the World Athletics Heritage Plaque. The hope is that members of Owens’ family will be able to attend the unveiling ceremony in May. To stay updated on news like this, you can sign up for our weekly newsletter, Michigan Schools or bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page for more Ann Arbor-area updates.
