Edison gave us light. The Wright Brothers gave us flight. Harriett Beecher Stowe gave us a book that started the abolition of slavery. Ulysses Grant led the army that preserved our Union. Albert Sabin conquered polio. And the Buckeye's own Jesse Owens showed the world hope in the face of a man as evil as the human race has ever known. One of the above, and only one, likely will be chosen to represent out great state in the National Statuary Hall in our U. S. Capital.
Who will it be? Who should it be? As a loyal alumnus, I would be proud for one of the Universities greatest ambassadors, Jesse Owens, to take that place. But as I stood in the new Ohio Union that day of the grand opening and cast my ballot, I thought, "Wow, this is tough This is like picking which one of your kids you like the best. Think of what these people did. Think of what each of them gave this country. Think of the rich history or our state and our university, of the contributions made to this nation. And I'm asked to just pick one?"
It was an interesting decision, in many ways a puzzle without an answer. The university was promoting Jesse that day, and rightly so. But regardless of who is chosen, we can all be proud. Who did you vote for? The results are out now at: