Dave Albritton

Dave Albritton. 1936 Olympic Silver Medalist, also, Morgan County Track and Field Legend. , Morgan County native David Donald Albritton competed at the XI Olympics in Berlin, Germany and became the first Alabama native to win an Olympic track and field medal. During Olympic Trials on July 11, 1936 at Randall's Island in New York City. Albritton tied Cornelius Johnson for the World High Jump Record at 6 feet, 9 3/4 inches. They were the first African-Americans to set the world mark. During competition at the Olympic Games on August 2, 1936 in Germany, Johnson took the gold, Albritton won the silver, and Delos Thurber earned bronze. Minutes before the medals presentation, German Chancellor Adolph Hitler and his entourage left the stadium. He ignored the U.S. team that filled the awards platform. (Continued on other side), (continued from other side) David D. Albritton was born April 13, 1913 in Danville, Alabama. He moved to Cleveland, Ohio with his parents Josephine and Peter Albritton where he met Jesse Owens as a student and remained a lifelong friend. Albritton graduated from Ohio State University after the Olympic Games. Albritton won or tied seven times for National Amateur Athletic Union outdoor titles from 1936 to 1950. After graduating from Ohio State University, Albritton moved to Dayton, Ohio where he taught and coached at Dunbar High School, leading three teams to the Ohio State High School Track and Field Championships. Albritton also had a successful business career and in 1960 was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives. Albritton became the first African-American to chair an Ohio House committee in 1969 as Chairman of the Interstate Cooperation Committee. He completed six terms in the Ohio General Assembly. Dave Albritton died on May 14, 1994.