Jesse Owens has been selected as a top 10 nominee to represent Ohio in the U.S. Capitol.
Owens, an Ohio State graduate and four-time Olympic gold medal winner, has made the cut after Ohio politicians cut down a pool of 93 candidates to represent the state in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall Collection.
Two statues representing each state are housed in the hall, with former President James Garfield and former Ohio Gov. William Allen representing the state now. But the Ohio General Assembly decided to replace the statue of Allen because he opposed the emancipation of slavery.
The original 93 nominees were proposed by Ohioans through e-mails, letters, phone calls and presentations, legislative aide Kristin Strobel said.
All recommendations were accepted as nominees.
The six members of the Assembly’s National Statuary Committee narrowed the list by ranking their top 10 preferences. Committee members are appointed by Senate members and the Speaker of the House.
The members presented a variety of reasons for choosing Owens, Strobel said, but learned a lot about him after visiting Ohio State in November.
Owens’ family and a Columbus Dispatch sports columnist were among the speakers in favor of Owens.
“Jesse Owens is not only a nationally recognized athlete with Ohio roots, but he exemplifies Ohio values of hard work and
determination,” said Sen. Mark Wagoner in a press release. “Here we have yet another great Ohioan with the credentials to represent our state in the U.S. Capitol.”
The public will be able to vote on the statue from March 20 to June 12 at polling locations across Ohio.
Other top 10 nominees include Harriet Beecher Stowe, Ulysses S. Grant and Thomas Edison.
Voters can cast a ballot by visiting the Ohio Historical Society, the Cincinnati Museum Center or the Western Reserve Historical Society.
The public vote will not decide the winner but will influence the committee’s final decision.
The State House will also host a polling station for students who can’t make it to any of the other locations, Strobel said.
The final selection will be made in early July.
