Herb Douglas

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For the Seventh-day Adventist theologian, see Herbert E. Douglass.
Herb Douglas
Herbert Douglas Jr.jpg
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 1948 London Long jump

Herbert Paul Douglas Jr. (born March 9, 1922) is an American former athlete who competed mainly in the long jump. He represented the U.S. in that event at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, where he won the bronze medal with a jump of 24 feet 9 inches (7.54 m). Willie Steele of the United States won the gold medal with 25 feet 8 inches (7.82 m) and Australia's Theo Bruce took the silver medal with 24 feet 9.5 inches (7.56 m). Prior to the 2012 Summer Olympics Douglas was recognized as the oldest living African-American Olympic medalist.[1]

Douglas graduated from Taylor Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1940 and was inducted into their alumni hall of fame in 2009.[2] He was Allderdice's first Black basketball player.[3] Douglas first attended Xavier University of Louisiana in 1942, and competed at the 48th Annual Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, helping Xavier University win the American Quarter-Mile Relay Championship. He competed in college at the University of Pittsburgh and was inducted into the inaugural class of their sports hall of fame in 2018. Douglas is a member of Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity.

References[]

  1. ^ Herb Douglas, Oldest Living African-American Olympic Medalist, Reflects On 1948 London Games
  2. ^ Hecht, Steve (August 27, 2009). "Comedian Marty Allen part of Allderdice's first hall class". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  3. ^ "'I accepted that third place like it was first place': How the 1948 Olympics changed Herb Douglas' life".

External links[]


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