Contribution:
First African American national star to emerge from Tennessee State University. She competed in the Olympic Games, the first in London when she was 16 (1948). She returned to help the United States win the Gold Medal in the 4x100 meters relay in Helsinki (1952) and a Bronze Medal in Melbourne (1956). Following her retirement, she started a teaching career at Lockland (Ohio) Wayne High School and became an administrator at Princeton City (Ohio) Schools. She led Princeton High School girls track and field team to the Ohio championship (1989).