Laurel in Jones County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)

Ralph Boston

Photographed by Mark Hilton, December 2, 2017

1. Ralph Boston Marker

Inscription. Born in Laurel on May 9, 1939, Ralph Boston became a star athlete at Oak Park High School. While attending Tennessee State (1957-1962), Boston set records in the high jump, sprints, high hurdles, and long jump. Earning a spot on three successive U.S. Olympic track and field teams, Boston won a gold medal in 1960, silver in 1964, and bronze in 1968, all in the long jump. Ralph Boston was inducted into the National Track and Field, the U.S. Olympic, and the Mississippi Sports Halls of Fame.

Erected 2009 by Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Sports. In addition, it is included in the Mississippi State Historical Marker Program series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 9, 1939.

Location. 31° 39.861′ N, 89° 8.413′ W. Marker is in Laurel, Mississippi, in Jones County. It is on Queensburg Avenue north of Brown Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2321 Queensburg Avenue, Laurel MS 39440, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Mississippi’s Pine Belt.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Piney Woods.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Oak Park School (approx. 0.6 miles away); Masonite Corporation (approx. 1.1 miles away); Beacon Homes

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(approx. 1.3 miles away); Dr. King Visits Laurel (approx. 1.6 miles away); Triangle Homes (approx. 1.7 miles away); Jones County Blues (approx. 2 miles away); F.W. Woolworth Building (approx. 2 miles away); Hotel Pinehurst (approx. 2.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Laurel.

Also see . . . Wikipedia article on Ralph Boston. (Submitted on December 3, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

View of marker and the City of Laurel, Boston Park. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, December 2, 2017

2. View of marker and the City of Laurel, Boston Park.

Looking north, on Queensburg Avenue, from the marker. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, December 2, 2017

3. Looking north, on Queensburg Avenue, from the marker.

Ralph Boston at the Rome Olympics in 1960. image. Click for full size.

Public domain

4. Ralph Boston at the Rome Olympics in 1960.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 3, 2017. It was originally submitted on December 3, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 820 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 3, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.