Willie Steele

Originally from San Diego, Willie Steele attended San Jose State College from 1942-1943, then finished his schooling at San Diego State. While best known for his skills at the broad and high jump, Steele also played multiple other sports including baseball, football, and boxing. In 1942, he set the college's field jump mark record with a 25'7" jump, which stood as the record until 1966, earning him the National Junior Broad Jump title. In 1945, Steele competed in the Allied Track and Field Championships at the Foro D'Italia stadium in Florence, Italy and won both the broad and high jump events. While at school, Steele batted .310, and after graduation from San Diego State he made the 1949 second All-CCAA baseball team as a first baseman. He competed in the 1948 London Olympics and won gold in the long jump. Steele served as an Army Private First Class in the Fifth Army in World War II. He became a director in Oakland's Parks and Rec Department, and retired in 1988. Steele passed away on Sept. 19, 1989.