Joseph Louis Barrow, born May 13, 1914 outside of Lafayette, Alabama, emerged in the 1930s as an African American boxing legend with fifty wins in fifty-four matches, and forty-three wins by knockout. He maintained the title of championship winner for close to twelve years.

Louis, nicknamed the “Brown Bomber,” began boxing after moving to Detroit with his family, and paid for boxing lessons at the Brewster Recreation Center with money that his mother gave him to pay for violin lessons.

Louis, hard-working and determined, trained vigorously until he won Detroit’s Golden Gloves light-heavyweight title and the national Amateur Athletic Union championship. He gained global fame as heavyweight champion on June 22, 1937 in his fight against James J. Braddock.

Outside of the ring, Louis was a generous victor and donated a portion of his money to military relief funds, as well as enlisted in the U.S. Army demonstrating his support. Louis formally retired in 1949 but returned to the ring shortly after to combat financial struggles.

Louis underwent heart surgery in 1977, and four years later died of cardiac arrest. He was, posthumously, awarded a Congressional Gold Medal in 1982.