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Ben Johnson (American Sprinter)
Benjamin Washington Johnson (1914–1992) was an American sprinter who was considered a serious rival to Olympic gold medalist Jesse Owens. Known as the "Columbia Comet", Johnson was the United States champion at 100 yards in 1938, but injuries and the outbreak of the Second World War denied him a chance to compete in the Olympics. In later life he became one of the first African-Americans to attain the rank of colonel in the United States Army. Early life Ben Johnson was born in Brooklyn, New York. His mother, Ellen Washington, was the great aunt of actor Denzel Washington. According to the 1915 New York Census, he and his parents were living at 788 Union Street in an apartment above the horse stable where Johnson’s father worked. By 1920, Johnson and his family had moved to Hamilton, Cumberland County, Virginia. After his father died, Johnson moved with his mother first to Lower Merion, Pennsylvania, and then, about 1929, to Plymouth, Pennsylvania. He attended Plymouth Hig ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth are shaped by the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Chesapeake Bay, which provide habitat for much of its flora and fauna. The capital of the Commonwealth is Richmond; Virginia Beach is the most-populous city, and Fairfax County is the most-populous political subdivision. The Commonwealth's population was over 8.65million, with 36% of them living in the Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area. The area's history begins with several indigenous groups, including the Powhatan. In 1607, the London Company established the Colony of Virginia as the first permanent English colony in the New World. Virginia's state nickname, the Old Dominion, is a reference to this status. Slave labor and land acquired from displaced native tribes fueled the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
