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. 4 In January 1943 Steele withdrew from San Jose State, hoping to join the Army Air Corps. He enlisted on March 10, 1943, with no branch assignment. He ended up a U.S. Army 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
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.
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
Steele married Mildred Turner (Steele), and they had a son, Alton Samuel Steele (born March 22, 1944). As an adult, Alton appreciates having grown up in Oakland. While not perfect, it was much less restrictive than San Diego. 12
Alton went to Cole Elementary School, then 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
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.
Links and References
- Willie Steele on Wikipedia
- New Coaching Era Ahead for Track Oakland Tribune April 28, 1954
- Willie Steele Set For Post Here Oakland Tribune April 9, 1954
- Spartans Face Double Duty In Final Stretch Oakland Post Enquirer November 7, 1942
- Poly Fullback Man of Steel Pomona Progress Bulletin October 1, 1970
- Del Sudoeste 1949 San Diego State archives
- Aztec Alumni News, Fall 1948 San Diego State archives
- Fifth Army Holds Track Meet in Mussolini Bowl Oakland Tribune June 21, 1944
- 10,000 in Mussolini Stadium Cheer Game Yankee's Victory Oakland Tribune July 17, 1944
- Neighborhood Recreation Needs Survey Under Way Oakland Tribune May 20, 1960
- Willie S. Steele, 66; captured a gold medal in 1948 Olympics San Diego Union September 24, 1989 (subscription required)
- The Allied Olympic Games History – Special Episode YouTube April 23, 2024
- Steele, Willie S. on blackpast.org
- PFC Willie Samuel Steele on FindAGrave.com
- audio clip (Steele's voice begins about 12:57) at African American Museum and Library at Oakland
- Gloves Are Flying At De Fremery by Willie Steele Oakland Tribune January 23, 1955 (with photos)
- clip of long jump at 1948 Olympics YouTube (full newsreel)
- Willie Steele USATF National Track and Field Hall of Fame
- Yank: The Army Weekly August 25, 1944
- The Black in Crimson and Black: A History and Profiles of African Americans at SDSU by Robert Fikes, Jr.