Background
Steele was born in El Centro, California on July 14, 1923.
Steele was born in El Centro, California on July 14, 1923.
At age 4 his family moved to San Diego where he graduated from Herbert Hoover High School in 1940.
He was considered the world"s best long jumper in 1942 and 1946, and was world ranked #1 by Track & Field News their first two years of producing worldwide rankings, 1947 and 1948. His college and track career was interrupted by World World War II when he enlisted in the Army. He served in Italy and the Philippines, and he was decorated for his service.1
He had personal bests in the 100 yard dash of 9.7 (1948) and 26’6’ in the long jump (1947), a mere 2.25 inches behind Jesse Owens’ world record of 1935 that stood for some 25 years.
His long jump remains the school record at San Diego State, not even surpassed by 1976 Olympic Gold medalist Arnie Robinson.
Prior to the event, Steele had suffered an ankle injury. After his track career, Steele signed a contract to play halfback for the Los Angeles Rams but only performed in some exhibition games before being cut from the team
Soft-spoken and unpretentious, Steele was the epitome of the student-athlete and he was a popular speaker at social and civic functions. Steele spent most of his working career in Oakland, California as a director in the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.
He raised a family in Oakland.
A year after he retired, Steele died of cancer on September 19, 1989. In 2009, Willie Steele was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Hall of Champions in San Diego’s Balboa Park.
Championships 1948 Olympic Games: Long Jump - 7.82 m (1st) 1948 Olympic Trials: Long Jump - 7.98 m (1st) 1946 Amateur Athletic Union Outdoors: Long Jump - 7.32 m (1st) 1947 Amateur Athletic Union Outdoors: Long Jump - 7.55 m (1st) 1948 National Collegiate Athletic Association Outdoors: Long Jump - 7.60 m (1st) 1947 National Collegiate Athletic Association Outdoors: Long Jump - 8.08 m (1st).