Education
Mr. Ewell attended John Piersol McCaskey High School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Ewell attended John Piersol McCaskey High School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Born into poverty in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Barney Ewell was one of the world"s leading sprinters of the 1940s. McCaskey High School honored Mr. Ewell by dedicating their stadium in his name.
Mr.
Ewell was also inducted into the Justice of the Peace McCaskey Athletic Hall of Fame during the school"s 50th anniversary year in 1988. He was an outstanding long jumper as well, leaping 25 feet 2 inches (768 m) in 1942. He served his country during the years 1941 - 1945, returned to the university and received his Bachelor of Surgery degree in 1947.
He surprised everyone by making the 1948 Olympic team, equaling the world record of 10.2 in the 100 m dash at the 1948 Amateur Athletic Union championship, which was also the Olympic trials.
In the 200 m, Ewell had another close finish and again finished second - this time to teammate Mel Patton. He was added to the 4 × 100 m relay when Editor Conwell became sick and the American team rolled to an easy victory.
However, the exchange between Ewell and Lorenzo Wright was ruled out of the zone and the American team was disqualified. After viewing a film of the race, however, officials reversed the ruling, and Barney Ewell finally had his Olympic gold medal.
Barney Ewell took part in the Scottish Border games circuit during the summer of 1950.
He lived most of those weeks in the town of Bathgate. He also took part in a special invitation race in August that same year to mark his time in Scotland (run as a handicap race) over 120 yards at the famous Powderhall venue. Barney Ewell died in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
He was a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.