Owens, Jesse

Cultural  

1. An African-American athlete of the twentieth century. He won four gold medals in track and field events at the Olympic Games of 1936, held in Germany when Adolf Hitler was leader. His victories were a source of pride to the United States and also — because Owens was black — a blow to the Nazi notions of a master race.

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Example Sentences

For me back in the day it was James Burton, Steve Cropper, Don Rich and Buck Owens, Jesse Ed Davis, Robbie Robertson, in other words, it was a Telecaster, and it still is.

From New York Times

Two Lives After Losing to Jesse Owens Jesse Owens won the 200-meter dash at the 1936 Summer Games in Olympic-record time, the third of his four gold medals in Berlin.

From New York Times

Ryan Abrigo, Justin Keeney, Richie Owens, Jesse Casillas, Jeremy Chaussee and Chris Gosselaar also qualified out of the first heat to the main event.

From Time Magazine Archive