Willie Steele - Oakland

1949 ⁶

Willie Samuel Steele (July 14, 1923 – September 19, 1989) was a Gold medal-winning Olympic athlete and later the director of de Fremery Recreation Center. He served in the U.S. Army in WWII.

Steele was born in El Centro in the Imperial Valley to Laura Tompkins (Steele) and Theodore Samuel Steele, the middle of three sons. His family moved to San Diego when he was four years old. By the time he graduated from Herbert Hoover High School in 1940, ¹¹ his mother had died(*), his father had remarried to Viola Denny (Steele), and the family had grown to nine children.

(* still confirming the year of her death)

Athletics and Military

Beginning in 1942, he attended San Jose State where he competed in track and field, and played football. ⁴In January 1943 Steele withdrew from San Jose State, hoping to join the Army Air Corps. He enlisted in the Army on March 10, 1943. He was a private, serving in Africa, and then Italy in the landing and Battle of Anzio. In June 1944, the Fifth U.S. Army held a track meet at the unfinished Mussolini stadium in Rome. Although unofficial, Steele won the long jump. ⁸ He won the long jump and the high jump at another event in Rome in July 1944 which included other Allied forces. ⁹

Stars and Stripes Rome Edition July 1, 1944
courtesy Mario Tedeschini-Lalli

He left the Army in November 1945. Following the war, he continued his studies at San Diego State College (now University). His focus was on track and field, but he also played basketball, baseball, and football. ¹ In 1947, he made the second best long jump in NCAA history at 26 feet, 6 inches, behind Jesse Owens' record of 26 feet, 8 inches.

1947 yearbook1948 yearbook1948 alumni news ⁷

Steele won the Gold medal in the long jump at the 1948 London Olympics despite having an injured leg. ¹ On his return, his fellow students lifted him to his shoulders, and later planned to raise money to pay off his mortgage. The next year, the San Diego State yearbook was dedicated to him. ⁶

Steele played football for San Diego State after the Olympics. Unfortunately he broke his ankle during a scrimmage in September 1948 and missed the season.

After his college career, in 1949 he was signed to the Los Angeles Rams to play football, but was cut during pre-season. ¹

Oakland Years

According to 1954 Oakland Tribune articles, Steele came to Oakland in 1954 to work at de Fremery for the City Parks and Recreation Department, and had worked for the 6 years before that for San Diego parks and rec. ² He had the top score on the civil service exam for full time recreation director. ³

1954 ²

Steele married Mildred Turner (Steele), and they had a son, Alton Samuel Steele (born March 22, 1944). Alton graduated from McClymonds High School, where he lettered in football, baseball, and basketball. Alton joined the U.S. Marine Corps and did a 14 month tour in Vietnam. He then played football at Cal Poly Pomona. ⁵

Alton Steele, 1970 ⁵

A Tribune article in 1960 says Steele had resigned from the recreation department. It also says he worked at Bushrod as well as de Fremery. ¹⁰ He and Mildred divorced in 1968.

Death and Burial

Willie Steele retired in 1988, and died in 1989 after a battle with cancer. His funeral was at Fouche's Hudson Funeral Home. He is buried in the San Francisco National Cemetery.