Peacock, Eulace
Track and Field
b. Aug. 27, 1914, Dothan, AL
d. Dec. 13, 1996
A great sprinter, Peacock had the misfortune to be competing at the same time as two other greats, Jesse Owens and Ralph Metcalfe. However, as a student at Temple University in 1935, Peacock beat Owens in the 100-yard or 100-meter dash three of five times. One of his victories was in the AAU national outdoor championship meet, where he also won the long jump competition over Owens.
On August 8, 1934, Peacock tied the world record of 10.3 seconds in the 100-meter dash at a meet in Oslo, Norway. That was just one stop on an extended European tour during which he competed in both sprints and the long jump and lost only twice.
Peacock won the AAU outdoor pentathlon championship six times, in 1934, 1935, 1937, and from 1943 through 1945.
A pulled thigh muscle forced him out of the 1936 Olympic trials. Because of World War II, the next Olympics weren't held until 1948. By then Peacock had retired from competition to become a meet official.