Howard Drew (2003) - USC Athletics Hall of Fame

Howard Drew

Induction:
2003
Class:
1915

Howard Drew, the first “World’s Fastest Human,” was regarded as the sport’s best pre-World War I sprinter. He made the 1912 U.S. Olympic team as a high school senior, but a leg injury forced him out of the 100-meter finals in Stockholm. As a freshman at USC, he tied the world record in the 100-yard dash (9.6) and 220-yard dash (21.2). Regarded as the first in a long line of great African American sprinters, he won the AAU 100 in both 1912 and 1913 and the AAU 220 in 1913. He also was the second person ever to twice win the 100 at the Penn Relays (1914-15). A 1915 USC letterman, he also was a world class athlete in the long jump and other events. He received his law degree from USC in 1918 and became an attorney, judge and political leader. He served in the Army in World War I. He died Feb. 19, 1957, at age 66.