Olympic Gold Medalist, Boxing. He boxed as a middleweight, and in 1956, he won the Chicago Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions by knockout. He then tried out for the US Olympic team and won a place in the Rome Olympics of 1960 beside teammates Cassius Clay (later Muhammed Ali) and Nikos Spanakos. he won the Middleweight Gold Medal. During the games, he defeated Geronimo Fidel Odreman of Venezuela, TKO; Peter Odhiambo (Uganda) 5-0 decision; Lo Pu Chang (Taiwan) TKO; Ion Monea (Romania) by knockout; and Tadeusz Walasek (Poland) 3-2 decision, taking the gold medal. He served in the US Army with two tours in Vietnam. He was promoted to Sergeant Major and awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and two Purple Hearts. He also served as an ROTC Instructor at Alcorn State University in Mississippi. Following his death at age 76, he was interred at Fort Benning's Main Post Cemetery, where he had trained others to box.
Olympic Gold Medalist, Boxing. He boxed as a middleweight, and in 1956, he won the Chicago Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions by knockout. He then tried out for the US Olympic team and won a place in the Rome Olympics of 1960 beside teammates Cassius Clay (later Muhammed Ali) and Nikos Spanakos. he won the Middleweight Gold Medal. During the games, he defeated Geronimo Fidel Odreman of Venezuela, TKO; Peter Odhiambo (Uganda) 5-0 decision; Lo Pu Chang (Taiwan) TKO; Ion Monea (Romania) by knockout; and Tadeusz Walasek (Poland) 3-2 decision, taking the gold medal. He served in the US Army with two tours in Vietnam. He was promoted to Sergeant Major and awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and two Purple Hearts. He also served as an ROTC Instructor at Alcorn State University in Mississippi. Following his death at age 76, he was interred at Fort Benning's Main Post Cemetery, where he had trained others to box.
Bio by: Iola
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