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WILLYE B. WHITE * 1 January 1939 in Money MS † 6 Februrary 2007 in Chicago

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WILLYE B. WHITE * 1 January 1939 in Money MS † 6 Februrary 2007 in Chicago WILLYE B. WHITE * 1 January 1939 in Money MS † 6 Februrary 2007 in Chicago Willye WHITE, five-time Olympian for the United ing children to become productive citizens by teach- States, died on Tuesday, 6 February 2007, in Evanston, ing sports and teamwork to children in the nation's Illinois, from complications of pancreatic cancer. She largest housing project. The Foundation included was 67 years old. She first competed in the Olympic an after-school program, a summer day-camp, and Games in 1956 at Melbourne when she was only a healthcare for the children. De VARONA noted, "For 16-year-old high school sophomore. Despite her all the struggles she went through, she always gave back, youth, she won a silver medal in the long jump be- she was always campaigning for equal education, equal hind Poland's Elzbieta KRZESINSKA-DUNSKA. She also rights." Another Olympic team mate, Pat CONNOLY competed in the long jump at the 1960, 1964, 1968, (1960), spoke of her, and 1972 Olympics, where she made the finals each "She was like a big sister. ... It was a very un- team, although never again as a medallist. However, likely friendship. I was raised a Mormon. ... in 1964, she ran a leg on the USA's 4 x 100 metre re- I knew nothing about blacks. ... I had my eyes lay team, and earned a second silver medal. opened when I made the Olympic team and WHITE'S 6.09 long jump, which won her 1956 sil- Wilma Rudolph and Cassius Clay and all these ver medal, was a US national record. She eventu- people became my teammates, but it was Willye ally set seven USA records in the long jump, her who helped me learn and understand everything last being 6.55 in 1964, a mark which stood until I needed to know. ... She was one of America's 1972. In her career, she won 13 national indoor and best ambassadors for sport and humanity." outdoor titles, and competed on 34 international Willye WHITE was the first American to win the teams, including the 1959, 1963, 1967, and 1971 UNESCO's Pierre de COUBERTIN International Fair Pan-American teams for the United States. Play Trophy She eventually became a member of 11 Despite her athletic career she may be less re- Halls of Fame, including those for the Women Sports membered for that than her legacy as a person. Foundation, USA Track and Field, Black Sports, and the She was born on 31 December 1959 in Money, National Association of Sport and Physical Education. Mississippi. One of her 1960 Olympic team mates, In 1999 she was chosen by Sports Illustrated as one Donna de VARONA, later a close friend, noted, "She of the 100 greatest American athletes of the century. grew up before the civil rights movement and overcame At her funeral, the guest list read like a Who's Who all the hurdles she had as an African-American woman." of American Olympians. WHITE later commented, "I started in athletics because There, a friend, Eva BROWN, athletics was my flight to freedom. Freedom from the del- spoke of her, "There are no ta cotton fields, bias, and prejudice of the South. I had no more races to run. Rest in the other choice. ... Before my first Olympics, I though the master suite." whole world consisted of cross burnings and lynchings." by Bill Mallon She also noted of her Olympic career, "The Olympic Movement taught me not to judge a person by the color of their skin but by the contents of their hearts. I am who I am because of my participation in sports." WHITE attended Tennessee State University, where she competed for the renowned Tigerbelles track & field teams. She moved to Chicago in 1960 and became a nurse, first at Cook County Hospital, then at the Greenwood Medical Center. In 1965 she became a public health administrator at the Chicago Health Department. Though she had not original- ly graduated from college, she returned to school and earned a bachelor's degree from Chicago State University in 1976. WHITE remained active in sports, teaching and coaching athletes. She coached and managed at the 1981 World Cup and was head coach at the 1994 US Olympic Festival. In 1990, she founded WBW Hang on Productions, a sports and fitness consultancy. In 1991 she founded the Willye White Foundation, help- JOURNAL OF OLYMPIC HISTORY 15(MARCH 2007)NUMBER 1 61.
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