Billy Brown

William Tennant Brown (August 3, 1918 – December 29, 2002) was an American triple jumper, long jumper and sprinter. Between 1936 and 1943 he won six national outdoor championship titles in the triple jump and three in the long jump. He was the long jump world leader in 1941 and held the American record in the triple jump from 1941 to 1956. He competed in the triple jump at the 1936 Summer Olympics, placing 17th.

Early life

Brown was born in Baker, Louisiana on August 3, 1918. He studied at Baker High School and led the school's track and field team; additionally, he was a good scholastic basketball player.

Brown won his first national (AAU) senior championship title in the triple jump as a high school junior in 1936; he jumped 49 ft 2 in (14.98 m), defeating both defending champion Rolland Romero and 1934 champion Dudley Wilkins. He also won the AAU junio r championship that year. At the 1936 United States Olympic Trials, held separately a week after the AAU meet, Brown placed third behind Romero and Wilkins with a jump of 49 ft 1 in (14.96 m); the top three qualified for the Olympic Games in Berlin. The 17-year-old Brown was the youngest athlete on the men's Olympic track squad. He recovered to place second with 24 ft in (7.53 m) at the 1939 NCAA championships. At the 1940 NCAA meet Brown was again second in the long jump (behind Jackie Robinson), also second in the 220 yards, and third in the 100 yards; he was the top scorer of the meet.

Brown won his only NCAA title in 1941, winning the long jump with a jump of 24 ft in (7.50 m); in addition, he was second in the 100 yards and third in the 220 yards, and was the leading scorer of the meet for the second consecutive year. He also repeated as AAU long jump champion, just missing his personal best with a leap of 25 ft in (7.73 m). Brown finished 1941 as world leader in the long jump (with his AAU jump) and joint world leader in the 100-yard dash at 9.5; his triple jump mark ranked him third in the world.

Later life

Brown graduated from LSU in 1941 and joined the United States Navy, but continued his track career. He won his last national titles as a Navy athlete; he successfully defended both the long jump and triple jump AAU titles in 1942, and won his final national title in the triple jump in 1943. After receiving his discharge from the Navy Brown had a long business career with Kaiser Aluminum, eventually becoming the company's vice president; he retired in 1983. He died in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on December 29, 2002.