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Ohio Lawmaker Seeks Day To Honor Track Star Jesse Owens

Ohio State University

A state lawmaker in Ohio is working to establish a day in honor of Olympic gold medalist Jesse Owens.

Legislation introduced last week by state Sen. Cecil Thomas, a Cincinnati Democrat, would declare Sept. 12 as Jesse Owens Day across the state. The record-setting track star was born on that date in 1913 in Oakville, Alabama.

Before his powerful performance in the 1936 Olympics, Owens ran track at Ohio State University in Columbus, where he was known as the "Buckeye Bullet."

The bill comes as the story of Owens' life is enjoying a return to the public eye in the biopic "Race."

The film tracks his racing career as well as telling the story of the U.S. Olympic Committee's debate over participating in the 1936 games in Nazi Germany.

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