Ralph Metcalfe
Encyclopedia
Ralph Harold Metcalfe (May 30, 1910 – October 10, 1978) was an African-American athlete and politician who came second to Jesse Owens
in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Metcalfe jointly held the world record
for the 100 meter
sprint
. Metcalfe was known as the world’s fastest human from 1932 through 1934. He later went into politics and served in the United States Congress.
Born in Atlanta, Georgia
, Metcalfe studied at Marquette University
and equalled the record of 10.3 seconds on a number of occasions, as well as equaling the 200 meter
record of 20.6 seconds. He became the first man to win the NCAA 200 m title three times consecutively. At the 1932 Summer Olympics
he virtually dead-heated with his rival Eddie Tolan
, with the medal awarded to Tolan only after extended study of the photograph. Both recorded a time of 10.38 seconds. He received a bronze medal in the 200 meter event at these games. Metcalfe competed again in the 100 meters at the 1936 Summer Olympics
, placing second to Jesse Owens
. He received a gold medal as part of the winning 4×100 meter relay
team.
Metcalfe completed a master's degree
at the University of Southern California
. After his college career, he joined the armed forces and served in World War II
. Metcalfe later coached track at Xavier University of Louisiana
before becoming a successful businessman in Chicago, Illinois.
In 1949, Metcalfe won election as an alderman
representing the South Side
of Chicago, Illinois. He was a Democrat
representing Illinois' 1st congressional district
in the United States House of Representatives
from 1971 until his death in 1978 at age sixty-eight. He was a co-founder of the Congressional Black Caucus
(CBC).
In 1975, Metcalfe was inducted into the United States Track and Field Hall of Fame (USATF) and named a member of the President
's Commission on Olympic Sports.
He is interred at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
in Alsip, Illinois
.
The federal building at 77 W. Jackson in Chicago was named for Metcalfe when it was dedicated in 1991.
Metcalfe was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
fraternity
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...
in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Metcalfe jointly held the 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...
for the 100 meter
100 metres
The 100 metres, or 100-metre dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, it is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896...
sprint
Sprint (race)
Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...
. Metcalfe was known as the world’s fastest human from 1932 through 1934. He later went into politics and served in the United States Congress.
Born in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, Metcalfe studied at Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
and equalled the record of 10.3 seconds on a number of occasions, as well as equaling the 200 meter
200 metres
A 200 metres race is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400 m track, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques are needed to successfully run the race. A slightly shorter race, called the stadion and run on a straight track, was the first...
record of 20.6 seconds. He became the first man to win the NCAA 200 m title three times consecutively. At the 1932 Summer Olympics
1932 Summer Olympics
The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, was a major world wide multi-athletic event which was celebrated in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. No other cities made a bid to host these Olympics. Held during the worldwide Great Depression, many nations...
he virtually dead-heated with his rival Eddie Tolan
Eddie Tolan
Thomas Edward "Eddie" Tolan , nicknamed the "Midnight Express", was an American track and field athlete who compete in the Sprints. He set world records in the 100 yard dash and 100 meters event and Olympic records in the 100 meters and 200 meters events...
, with the medal awarded to Tolan only after extended study of the photograph. Both recorded a time of 10.38 seconds. He received a bronze medal in the 200 meter event at these games. Metcalfe competed again in the 100 meters at the 1936 Summer Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
, placing second to 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...
. He received a gold medal as part of the winning 4×100 meter relay
4 x 100 metres relay
The 4 × 100 metres relay or sprint relay is an athletics track event run in lanes over one lap of the track with four runners completing 100 metres each. The first runners begin in the same stagger as for the individual 400 m race...
team.
Metcalfe completed a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. After his college career, he joined the armed forces and served in 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...
. Metcalfe later coached track at Xavier University of Louisiana
Xavier University of Louisiana
Xavier University of Louisiana , located in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the United States, is a private, coeducational, liberal arts college with the distinction of being the only historically black Roman Catholic institution of higher education...
before becoming a successful businessman in Chicago, Illinois.
In 1949, Metcalfe won election as an alderman
Chicago City Council
The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago in Illinois. It consists of 50 aldermen elected from 50 wards to serve four-year terms...
representing the South Side
South Side (Chicago)
The South Side is a major part of the City of Chicago, which is located in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Much of it has evolved from the city's incorporation of independent townships, such as Hyde Park Township which voted along with several other townships to be annexed in the June 29,...
of Chicago, Illinois. He was a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
representing Illinois' 1st congressional district
Illinois' 1st congressional district
Illinois's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Illinois. Based in Cook County, the district includes much of the South Side of Chicago, extending into the city's southwest suburbs until reaching the border of Will County, and covers , making it one of the 40...
in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1971 until his death in 1978 at age sixty-eight. He was a co-founder of the Congressional Black Caucus
Congressional Black Caucus
The Congressional Black Caucus is an organization representing the black members of the United States Congress. Membership is exclusive to blacks, and its chair in the 112th Congress is Representative Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri.-Aims:...
(CBC).
In 1975, Metcalfe was inducted into the United States Track and Field Hall of Fame (USATF) and named a member of the President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
's Commission on Olympic Sports.
He is interred at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery is the name of several different cemeteries in the United States. The name is inspired by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, which is believed by many Christians to be built on the site of Jesus's tomb...
in Alsip, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
.
The federal building at 77 W. Jackson in Chicago was named for Metcalfe when it was dedicated in 1991.
Metcalfe was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
fraternity
External links
- Ralph Metcalfe Biography
- Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
- Ralph Metcalfe Memorial at Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...