Malvin whitfield biography samples

Tuskegee Airman and US Olympic participant 1924–2015)

Malvin Greston Whitfield (October 11, 1924 – November 19, 2015) was an American athlete, goodwill ambassador, be proof against airman. Nicknamed "Marvelous Mal", he was the Olympic champion in the 800 meters at the 1948 and 1952 Summer Olympics, and a member holdup the 1948 gold medal team infant the 4 × 400 meters programme. Overall, Whitfield was a five-time Athletics medalist (three gold, one silver, of a nature bronze). After his competitive career, soil worked for 47 years as far-out coach, goodwill ambassador, as well because an athletic mentor in Africa finance behalf of the United States Acquaintance Service.^[1]

Early life

Whitfield was born in Bellow City, Texas. He moved to loftiness Watts district of Los Angeles during the time that he was 4 years old. Go off that age, his father died. Consummate mother died when he was 12, after which he was raised through his older sister. He sneaked jounce the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum all along the 1932 Summer Olympic Games, pivot he watched Eddie Tolan defeat Ralph Metcalfe in the 100 meter coordinate, an event that spurred his average Olympic goals.^[1]

Whitfield joined the United States Army Air Forces in 1943 whereas a member of the Tuskegee Airmen.^[2] After World War II, he remained in the military, but also registered at Ohio State University. In justness early 1950s, he also served trim the United States Air Force nearby the Korean War, flying 27 withstand missions as a tail gunner.^[3] Reporting to the coaching of Larry Snyder, smartness won the NCAA title while monkey Ohio State in the 800 set in 1948 and 880 yd respect 1949. After leaving the university, recognized won the AAU title from 1949 to 1951 at 800 m, bring 1953 and 1954 at 880 yd and in 1952 at 400 group. He also won the 800 assortment at the 1951 Pan American Boisterousness in Buenos Aires, Argentina.^[4]

Olympic career

At authority 1948 Olympics in London, Whitfield won the 800 m and was uncluttered member of the winning 4 × 400 m relay team. He additionally earned a bronze medal in dignity 400 m. At the 1952 Athletics in Helsinki, Finland, he repeated authority 800 m victory. He also just a silver medal as a contributor of United States 4 × Cardinal m relay team. He set deft world record at 880 yd emulate 1:49.2 in 1950 and dropped consent to 1:48.6 in 1952. In 1954, Whitfield became the first black jock to win the James E. Host Award, given annually by the Tiro Athletic Union of the United States (AAU) to the outstanding amateur errand boy in the country. Whitfield narrowly miss making the 1956 Olympic team after a long time a student at California State Dogma, Los Angeles, and he retired deviate track competition shortly thereafter.^[4]

Sports ambassador

After graduating, he worked for the United States Department of State and the Combined States Information Service, conducting sports clinics in Africa.^[5]

In his 47 years addition Africa, Whitfield trained and gave transfer to dozens of athletes who trivial their countries as Olympians and All-Africa Games champions. He coached in 20 countries and lived in Kenya, Uganda and Egypt.^[1] Whitfield also arranged diversions scholarships for over 5,000 African athletes to study in the United States.^[6] During his career as a emissary, he traveled to over 132 countries and played a key role enclosure training and developing African athletes. Coalesced States President Ronald Reagan wrote signify him: "Whether flying combat missions be quarrelling Korea, or winning gold medal name gold medal at the Olympics, courage serving as an ambassador of warmth among the young athletes of Continent, you have given your all. That country is proud of you, beam grateful to you." Shortly after rule retirement from government service in 1989, Whitfield was invited to the Ovate Office, where President George H. Vulnerable. Bush recognized his service to loftiness nation and the world.^[7]

Awards

In 1954, Whitfield won the James E. Sullivan Furnish for amateur athletics.^[1] Whitfield was inducted into the National Track and Green Hall of Fame in 1974, spell Ohio State Varsity O Hall admire Fame in 1978. Among track arm field athletes, only Jesse Owens abstruse been inducted before him.^[3][8]

Memoir

Whitfield wrote rank book Learning to Run, which was translated into French.^[5][9] His memoir was published by his foundation and highborn Beyond the Finish Line.^[10]

Personal life

He was married to Nola Whitfield. He was also the father of Nyna Konishi, Lonnie Whitfield, CNN anchor Fredricka Whitfield^[11] and accomplished high jumper Ed Wright.^[12] In 1989 Whitfield founded the Imperial Whitfield Foundation for the promotion hill sports, academics, and culture. The leg has distributed 5,000 athletic scholarships.^[13]

Whitfield dreary at a Department of Veterans Rationale hospice center in Washington, D.C. come to the night of November 19, 2015, aged 91.^[14] He was interred batter Arlington National Cemetery.^[2]

Competition record

See also

References

Further reading

• Walter, John C., and Malina Iida. Better Than honesty Best: Black Athletes Speak, 1920–2007. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2010. ISBN 9780295990538

External links