One for the History Books

Coach Orlis Cox, far right, and the 1933 Ottawa High School half-mile relay team. Photo courtesy of the Franklin County Historical Society.

 

 

"...cold statistics indicate that no Kansas high school will win the Chicago meet this year. East Technical high school of Cleveland, [Ohio], has without doubt the greatest individual performer ever known in high school circles."

                                            

                                                       -Topeka, Kansas news article, 1933

 

The young athlete from Cleveland, Ohio, was future Olympic gold medalist Jesse Owens, and no one was expected to beat him at any of the events at the 1933 national interscholastic track and field meet in Chicago. But, a team from a small town in Kansas surprised everyone. Four members of the Ottawa High School's track team defeated Owens and his teammates to become the national champions in the half-mile relay. According to unconfirmed reports, when news of the victory reached Ottawa, whistles blew and bells tolled in celebration.  

 

The Ottawa High School relay team's victory is one of many stories featured on the Franklin County Historical Portal, a new website developed by the Franklin County Historical Society and its partners to share digitized articles, images, and primary source materials related to Franklin County's history. The project was completed with support from a KHC Heritage grant.  

 

A full article about the Ottawa High School track team's victory can be found here.