I-435 West KC-KS in Kansas City in Wyandotte County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Jess Willard

Heavyweight Boxing Champion

— December 29, 1881 • St. Clere, Kansas —

Jess Willard Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jason Voigt, May 25, 2022

1. Jess Willard Marker

Inscription. The Pottawatomie Giant, 6'7" Jess Willard, grew up loving horses. He worked in the livery stable business and didn't begin boxing until age 30. In Havana Cuba on April 5, 1915, Willard defeated Jack Johnson in 26 rounds to become the Heavyweight Champion of the World. His short boxing career ended July 4, 1919 when Jack Dempsey mauled him badly in a match. Willard's boxing fame brought him movie parts and a role in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.

Erected by Legends Outlets.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is April 5, 1915.

Location. 39° 7.579′ N, 94° 49.607′ W. Marker is in Kansas City, Kansas, in Wyandotte County. It is in I-435 West KC-KS. It can be reached from Village West Parkway. Marker is on the grounds of Kansas Legends Outlets shopping/entertainment complex. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1851 Village West Pkwy, Kansas City KS 66109, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Kansas. It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

on the prairies,

on the Southern Plains,

and on the Santa Fe Trail Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Buck O'Neil (here, next to this marker); Gerald Roberts (a few steps from this marker); Dr. James Naismith (a few steps from this marker); Lynette Woodard (a few steps from this marker); Gale Eugene Sayers

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(a few steps from this marker); Adolph F. Rupp (within shouting distance of this marker); Kansas Runners Dominate the 1500-meter Run (within shouting distance of this marker); Ralph Houk (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kansas City.

Regarding Jess Willard. This is one of several sidewalk plaques placed on the grounds of Kansas Legends Outlets shopping/entertainment complex, which highlight notable people and inventions that came from the state of Kansas.

Also see . . . Jess Willard on Wikipedia. (Submitted on July 13, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Photographed by Jason Voigt, May 25, 2022

2. Jess Willard Marker

Marker is on the grounds of Kansas Legends Outlets complex.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 13, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 256 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 13, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.