Historical Classical to host tribute to Springfield Olympian Howard Drew

March 3, 2016 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com

Howard Drew
Photo from www.howarddrew.com

SPRINGFIELD – The life of a Springfield resident who received national attention will be the subject of a tribute on March 6.

Howard Drew predated Olympian Jesse Owens – the subject of a new movie – as an acclaimed African American runner and yet his accomplishments have largely been forgotten.

Theresa Regina of Historical Classical will present a look at Drew’s life at 3 p.m. on March 6 at the condominium complex on State Street.

Regina said to Reminder Publications, “He was remarkable.”

She said she was looking for distinguished Classical graduates – which include Congressman Richard Neal and children’s author Dr. Seuss, among others – when she learned of Drew.

Regina credited much of the research done on Drew’s life and career to Larry Libow, who has assembled a website, www.howarddrew.com.

She explained Drew was born in Virginia, but raised in Springfield and was a student at the former Springfield High School, later known as Classical High School.

Although he dropped out of high school in 1906 to support his young family, Drew came back and finished his degree working in 1910 and started to gain attention for his athletic abilities. In 1912, while still finishing high school he won the U.S. Olympic trials for the 100-meter dash.

He represented the United States in the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden. He pulled a muscle in the 100-meter semifinal that prevented him from competing in the finals.

His hope for Olympic gold was dashed when the 1916 Olympics was cancelled because of World War I. He served in the U.S. Army and competed in the “Pershing Olympics,” conducted by Allied troops in which he was dubbed “the sensational sprinter.”

He was so acclaimed as a runner that Popular Science in a 1918 story about the swiftest animals noted in comparison, “the greatest speed attained by any man is that of Howard P. Drew, which covered 100 yards in 9 3/5 seconds (March 28, 1914).”

Regina explained Drew apparently wanted to attend Springfield College, but went to University of Southern California on a full scholarship. He then went on to Drake University where he studied law. While in college he competed in AAU track meets and established multiple records.

He retuned to New England and settled in Connecticut where he was one of only six African American lawyers in that state. He was selected as a judge and was the only African American judge in Connecticut.  

He died at the age of 66 in 1957.

Drew’s great-granddaughter Cynthia Roberson, a teacher in Springfield Public Schools, will be attending the event, Regina said.

“He was a really special man and Springfield should make a claim on him,” she said.

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