Born February 25, 1918, Harrisburg, Pa. Died April 4, 1996.

While still in high school, Barney Ewell won the U.S. junior sprint title before going on to an outstanding career at Penn State., winning back-to-back NCAA 100-200 titles in 1940-41. Between 1939 and 1948, Ewell won six national sprint titles and in 1948 at the U.S. Olympic Trials, he won the 100 meters in a world-record tying 10.2. At the Olympic Games in London, he thought he had won only to learn the victory was given to teammmate Harrison Dillard. In the 200, Ewell had another close finish and again finished second -- this time to teammate Mel Patton. He was added to the 4 x100-meters relay when Ed Conwell became sick and the U.S. rolled to an easy victory. However, the exchange between Ewell and Lorenzo Wright was ruled out of the zone and the U.S. was disqualified. The ruling was later reversed, however, and Barney Ewell finally had his Olympic gold medal.