Ray Ewry Presentation Scheduled
Ray Ewry (first row, second from left) and his fellow US Olympic athletes
Join us for…
Strong Hand Forever: Ray Ewry & the 1908 Olympics
with
Cindy Eberts — Retired Purdue Professor
- Date: Wednesday, February 18th
- Time: 6:30 p.m.
- Place: LUM Ray Ewry Youth Center, 525 N 4th Street, Lafayette
Rather than jump for the Ivy League, Anglo-Saxon-only athletic club in the 1908 Olympic Games, Ray Ewry, with his international reputation as a record breaking athlete, chose to join the New York City Irish-American Athletic Club. The NYC IAAC allowed anyone to join including American Indians, African-Americans, Jews, and Irish. As a member of the IAAC, Ewry was present when the ethnically diverse US Olympic team ran circles around the British Empire and broke the US athletic color barrier. The athletes from the IAAC outperformed everyone in the 1908 Olympics leaving us with an unmistakable message of personal courage, racial inclusion, and faith.
Come hear Professor Eberts share the stories behind this vintage photo of Ray Ewry (first row, second from left) and his fellow athletes — as well as stories about Ray Ewry’s 1908 Olympic experience.