University Southern California Trojans
Feb. 18,
Los Angeles - Trojan distance running great and World War II hero Louis Zamperini will be honored at noon on Saturday, Feb. 21, as USC dedicates "Louis Zamperini Plaza" as the official entrance to Katherine B. Loker Track and Field Stadium.
Zamperini, USC President Steven B. Sample, Katherine B. Loker and several Trojan Olympians will be present for the event, which will take place at Loker Stadium on campus. The emcee for the ceremony will be former Trojan and Olympic gold medalist swimmer John Naber.
The plaza, located at the northeast end of Loker Stadium, features obelisks bearing the names of USC track and field's Olympic gold medalists, Olympic participants and NCAA individual champions.
Zamperini--a product of Torrance High--was among the most outstanding milers in the U.S. in the s. At age 19, the "Torrance Tornado" was the top American finisher in the m at the Olympic Games in Berlin. He later won two NCAA individual titles in the mile while running for USC track and field from to
After his collegiate career, he enlisted as a bombardier in the Army in World War II and was shot down over the Pacific Ocea
- Port Chester, NY
- Stamford, CT
- Harrison, NY
- Rye, NY
- White Plains, NY
- Darien, CT
- New Canaan, CT
- Scarsdale, NY
- Chappaqua-Mount Kisco, NY
- Larchmont-Mamaroneck, NY
This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.
(Greenwich, Conn. – October 25, ) – Brunswick School would have been proud to host one of America’s greatest heroes, Louis Zamperini, at a special assembly that was planned to have been broadcast simultaneously to the Middle School students on King Street. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Mr. Zamperini, who is 94 years old, was unable to appear at Brunswick, but his inspirational message abounded nonetheless. John Naber, his manager and one of America’s most highly decorated Olympians at the Games in Montreal, stood in to speak about the life of Louis, a Berlin Olympic miler, World War II Army Air Corps bombardier, plane crash survivor, and a POW with a ferocious will to live.
Louis Zamperini’s story—which was revealed in the best selling book, Unbroken,written by Pulitzer Prize winning author, Laura Hillenbrand (author of Seabiscuit)—is an incredible odyssey of braver
News Detail
Mr. Zamperini spoke to the school about competing in the Olympics in Berlin, surviving for forty-seven days in a life raft after the crash of his bomber over the Pacific, being imprisoned in Japan, and converting to Christianity. His message was one of hope and inspiration, summarized in the motto, “Be hardy.”
Accompanying Mr. Zamperini was John Naber, winner of four gold medals and one silver medal in swimming in the Olympic games. He and Mr. Zamperini have been friends for nearly thirty years.
Students attentively watched a video piece chronicling the life of Louis Zamperini, heard him share numerous stories, and asked him questions about his faith and his Olympic experience. After the talk, they lined up to shake Mr. Zamperini’s hand and thank him for his service.
An added highlight of the evening was a visit by Jacob Rainey ’13, who was seriously injured early in the fall during a football scrimmage. His first time back on campus since the accident that led to the amputation of his lower leg, Jacob was greeted by fellow Tigers with a standing ovation. After the assembly, Jacob met personally with Mr. Zamperini for encour
The Life And Legacy Of John Naber
Courtesy of Josh Davis, Mutual of Omaha BREAKOUT Swim Clinic Managing Director
Can you guess which US backstroke Olympic champion has made a swim technique video, is an accomplished speaker, inspired thousands of swimmers from his generation and known for being a great ambassador for the sport? Is it Matt Grevers, Aaron Peirsol, Lenny Krayzelburg or Jeff Rouse? Good guesses but not quite. Before all the amazing and articulate USA backstroke royalty I just mentioned, the first US Backstroke King was John Naber. John Naber had an epic swimming career by any standard and has continued to be one of the most successful swimming ambassadors in history. Today, on his 60th birthday, we will take a quick look and celebrate the life and legacy of John Naber.
John Naber, courtesy of Carolyn Naber
Born Jan. 20th, in Evanston, Ill, John&#;s family spent time in Italy and England when he was ages years old. This unique experience provided John a multi-faceted education that would serve him well as a story teller and leader later on in life. Upon returning to the States for high school he was encouraged to do basketball because of his 6&#;6&#; height
Biographies you may also like
John knox biography summary forms John Knox has been called a Hebrew Jeremiah set down on Scottish soil. After witnessing the martyrdom of Patrick Hamilton, a young nobleman returned from Germany with the Gospel, Missing: summary forms.
Pretty ballerina john mellencamp biography John Mellencamp, also known as John Cougar Mellencamp, is an American rock singer-songwriter, musician, painter and occasional actor known for his catchy, populist brand of .
John gower short biography John Gower, poet and friend of Chaucer, was born around , into a prominent Yorkshire family which held properties in Kent, Yorkshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Gower's coat of .
Variation 2 john cage biography Born in , John Cage was an experimental composer and pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and the non-standard use of musical .
John garang de mabior biography Colonel John Garang de Mabior was a Sudanese rebel leader, founder of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) which fought a year civil war against the northern .
Gerrit rietveld short biography Gerrit Thomas Rietveld (), architect and furniture designer, was a member of the group of Dutch artists and architects known as de Stijl. He was the first to give .
Boabdil biography of rory Former child star Rory Callum Sykes has died in the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires, his mother announced. "It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of Missing: boabdil.