Leechburg in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Jackie Wilson

1. Jackie Wilson Marker

Inscription. Born Jack Benjamin Wilson in 1909 and raised in Leechburg, PA. "Pittsburgh Jackie" began boxing professionaly in 1929 during boxing's golden age. He defeated Jack Lemos in 1941 to become the National Box Association Featherweight World Champion 1941 - 1943. He boxed in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, England, and Australia during his 18-year career with a lifetime record of 101-45-8. Known abroad as "The Little Guy with the Big Smile" and for his contagious smile at home. Died in 1966 and buried at Evergreen Cemetery. Inducted into the Armstrong County Sports Hall of Fame in 1973 and the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame in 2017.

Erected 2025 by Leechburg Area Museum and Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1941.

Location. 40° 38.083′ N, 79° 36.115′ W. Marker is in Leechburg, Pennsylvania, in Armstrong County. It is at the intersection of Logan Avenue and Veterans Avenue on Logan Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 147 Logan Avenue, Leechburg PA 15656, United States of

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America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Pittsburgh.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Leechburg Cemetery (approx. 0.4 miles away); Leechburg High School Building (approx. half a mile away); Pennsylvania Canal (approx. half a mile away); The Hyde Park Foot Bridge (approx. half a mile away); David Leech (approx. 0.6 miles away); Leechburg Veterans Mural and Sitting Park (approx. 0.6 miles away); Leechburg Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); Dr. H. W. Fraley Park (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Leechburg.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 19, 2025. This page has been viewed 95 times since then and 10 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on June 19, 2025. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.