Library Friends Webinar : Harold Osborn: 1922 Illinois Grad, 1924 and 1928 U.S. Olympian

A Special Presentation by Susan Jones Osborn and Elizabeth Osborn, Daughters of Harold Osborn 

At the 1924 Games, Harold Osborn ’22 ACES, a high school teacher and former Illini track star, leaped to the pinnacle of his track-and-field career, earning a gold medal in the high jump and, just days later, another gold in the decathlon. In all of Olympic history, no athlete has won gold in the same Games in the decathlon and another event, a distinction that earned Osborn being named the “greatest athlete in the world” by an admiring press. All this, despite being blind in one eye.

Susan Jones Osborn and Elizabeth Osborn will be giving a presentation on their father's Olympian story, and showing some of the materials they have donated to the Student Life and Culture Archives. This special presentation is taking place the day before the kick-off of the Olympic Games in Paris. 

Elizabeth W. Osborn  

Liz has a BS from SIU (’62) and an MS from University of Illinois (’83).  Her career spanned 34 years at Unity High School in Tolono and included teacher, coach, and Assistant Principal.  Her volleyball teams recorded 503 wins, 156 losses and 1 tie with conference titles every year she coached.  She served on several committees and played a leadership role in the advancement of Girls Interscholastic sports in Illinois.   In her retirement she enthusiastically attends Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) courses, serving 5 years on their Development Committee.  

Susan Osborn Jones

With degrees in history (BA ‘69 U of ILL) and library science, MLS ’75 (Indiana University) Susan spent 36 years in administrative computing at three Big Ten universities, (Illinois, Michigan State, and Indiana).  She helped staff and administrators navigate through complicated Admissions, Registrar and Financial Aid computer systems.  In retirement, she is Literary Manager for Bloomington Playwrights Project, now Constellation Stage and Screen, where she coordinates the receipt, reading, and review of over 2000 scripts annually for the Woodward Newman award new theatre works.   She is a judge for the annual National Society of Arts and Letters-Indiana Chapter Literary competition.  She also combines library and computer skills with love of history as a collections volunteer at the Monroe County (IN) History Center.