Seeking new opportunities, Jesse Owens moved his wife, Ruth, and their daughters from Detroit to Chicago in 1948. It is here where he established his own public relations company, became a highly sought after motivational speaker, worked with numerous youth development programs, hosted his own radio program and where he eventually became a Master Mason. Even without the burdens of celebrity and international acclaim, it can be challenging for the average Brother to fit monthly Lodge meetings into one’s schedule. The lesson on how best to divide our time, taught to us by the 24-inch gauge, does not always conform to the demands and pressures of modern society. Nevertheless, Bro. Jesse Owens carved out some time for fellowship from his otherwise very active life.
During his tenure at Ohio State, Bro. Owens was known as the “Buckeye Bullet,” but most know Jesse Owens as the famous Olympiad who won four gold medals in the 1936 Summer Games in Berlin, Germany.
His accomplishments would not be matched again until Carl Lewis in the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles, California. Despite Owens’ achievements in Track and Field which granted him fame and notoriety, he would still have to work for his living in order to better support himself and his family. After World War II, American companies began to grow rapidly and devoted more of their revenues to public relations in an effort to make their products more attractive to customers.
Due to being known as the fastest man in the world and having defeated the competitors of Nazi Germany, Owens was the perfect choice for endorsements and other public relations opportunities. When he moved to Chicago with his family, Bro. Owens worked at a clothing store, at a home for juvenile delinquents, at a hotel on Chicago’s South Side, and held a variety of public relations roles with insurance companies, dry cleaners and clothing factories while also appearing on television and radio to promote products and services.
In fact, Bro. Owens received so many opportunities for endorsements and promotions that he was forced to form his own public relations company just to keep up with all of the work! Owens regularly performed community service at the South Side Boys Club alongside notables such as Joe Louis who was a long-time friend and fellow golf enthusiast.
In 1953, Bro. Owens was appointed by Governor Stratton to the Illinois State Athletic Commission as well as to the Illinois Youth Commission in 1955. Also, in 1955, PresidentEisenhower named Bro. Owens “Ambassador ofSports” in which capacity Owens attended the1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne and traveled around the world promoting freedom, democracy and positive images about the American way of life. In 1956, he organized the Junior OlympicGames for children in Chicago ages 12-17. JesseOwens was also a member of the Chicago UrbanLeague where he partnered with people like Hans Ruprecht Wilhelm Schwab – a Holocaust victim –to advocate for equal rights.
When the call letters for 950 AM in Chicago were WAAF, Owens would tape his daily jazz radio program starting at 5:00 a.m. The show aired from noon-3:00 p.m. WAAF would later become WJPC when it was bought by the Johnson Publishing Company. With his busy schedule, Bro. Owens still allocated time for his fitness regimen. Past Master Charles Stewart of King David #100 – a subordinate lodge of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Illinois where MW Dwayne Smith currently presides as Grand Master – stated that both he and Owens were members of The Triangle Club – which had the latest exercise equipment, sauna, massage services, and steam room and whose membership included Chicago’s elite.
The Triangle Club was in the basement of the Washington Park YMCA which stood at 5040 South Indiana Avenue. In January of 1962, Bro. Owens applied to King David #100 to become a Master Mason. PM Charles Stewart took part in Owens’ investigation and then initiated him as an Entered Apprentice. PM Stewart recalls Bro. Owens having asked if there were any golfers within the lodge – to which he replied that he was not certain, but that he would definitely find out for him.
After Bro. Owens was initiated, passed and raised, his attendance at meetings was unfortunately very infrequent. Like many brothers, his demanding work schedule and time with his family prohibited him from spending time with his brothers. Marlene Owens Rankin, one of Jesse Owens’ daughters, stated that while the family knew of her father’s Masonic affiliation they knew very little else about his involvement. She further said, however, that she did know that whatever he committed to through affiliation, he gave it his time and attention to the extent possible and that he must have believed in its mission and practiced it for many years.
Bro. Owens moved from Chicago to Arizona in the mid-1970s. Shortly thereafter, he passed away due to lung cancer. Prior to his death, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom – the highest award bestowed upon a U.S. civilian. Masons should always consider how best to utilize our time. However, our modern occupations tend to demand more and more of this precious resource. Bro. Jesse Owens’ efforts to support his family were considerably demanding on his time. Nevertheless, he set an example through his actions on how men and Masons alike should treat each other, love their families, and contribute to the betterment of their communities.
By Marcus Hammonds
King David Lodge No. 100, Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Illinois
