Jesse Owens

Front:
XI MPIADE BERLIN 1936 XI OLYMPIADE BERLIN 21936 OLYM OLYMPIAN QO INNEAFOIS JUL 6. 1990 25 55401 MN Jesse Owens

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JESSE OWENS First Day of Issue: July 6, 1990 First Issue Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota When the Olympics came to Berlin in 1936, the Germans spared no expense, building a massive complex dubbed the Reich Sports Grounds. The Nazis deemed the interna- tional event a chance to tout their “Aryan race" ideology, and taunted the United States for using “inferior" black athletes. One such athlete was Jesse Owens (1913-1980) who almost single-handedly exposed the hollow core of Nazi propaganda. In an astonishing performance, Owens earned gold medals in four events: the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter sprint, the long jump and the 400-meter relay, setting or tying three Olympic and world records in the process. The youngest of ten children born to Ala- bama sharecroppers, Jesse Owens moved with his family to Ohio in the 1920's. There Jesse set numerous junior high and high school track and field records. Initially, after his return from Berlin to the United States, his career faltered. But in the 1950's he achieved financial security as a public speaker, becoming what some termed a “pro- fessional good example" for the American way of life. No. 90-23 ©1990 The Maximum Card Collection A Division of Unicover Corporation • Cheyenne, WY 82008-0007 ® Original painting by Tom McNeely Jesse Owens by license of Jesse Owens' Trust, Curtis Management Group