The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1939-09-16
Joe Bounded
From Poverty
To Riches
Life Story Equals
Any Alger
Ever Wrote

In an era OF supposedly advanc-
ed civilization. with the "lsms" OF
hatred and bigotry and intolerance
pluneing bewildered world into
the chaos and destruction OF war,
the story Of Joe Louis Is a story
OF America and Democracy. 49,.
The story OF Joe Louis could not
have been written anywhere but In
a land that knows not race. nor
creed. nor color. "a land in Wild
All men are created free and equal
in the eyes OF God . where the
welcoming hand Of opportunity
stretches out 10 hieh-born and low
horn alike
Horatio Alger story
No From Rags 10 Riches" tale
rolling off the facile pen OF an
Horatio Alcer could quite match
The amazing real life story OF
Joe Louis Barrow horn May 1s.
i9li amid poverty and squalor in
q crowded, ramshacklc cabin in the
cotton fields OF Alabama.
Today. through powerful
physique and remarkable boxing
gifts. this humbly-born colored boy
has become world-famous. the
rosscssor OF riches far beyond
even The most fantastic dreams Of
his youth. idoized nv his own
race respected and admired by
his fellow men.
Whether Joe Louis IA the great
est heavyweight boxing has known
Is. OF course. matter Of opinion.
Youngest Champion
But there is no dispuiing that he
has compiled some OF the most
amazing records In the long annals
ot The prize ring.
|. For one thing. no Is the Young
est champion the heavyweight d.
vision has uncovered Shuflin'Joe
was only one month beyond his
23rd birthday when he knocked out
Jim Rraddock for the title in Chi
cago's Comiskey Park June %.
1877.
He has been the most indmstri-
Gus champion in the history of the
ring. When he squares off against
Bob Pastor in Briggs Stadium. De-
tron, the evening OF Wednesday
Sept 20. he will he defending his
laurcls for the EIGHTH TINE In
the TWO years and three months he
Will nave held them.
No champion has ever dominated
his class more completely than does
Louis, Shufflin' Joe has never
lodged legitimate challenge. has
fought whenever and wherever call
cd upon. and in his spectacular
climb 10 the hstic heights has
downed four former worlds cham
pions. Primo Camera, Max Baer.
Jack Sharkey. and Max Schmeling
Suffered One Defeat
In Ave years OF professional cam
paignng Louis has suffered only
one defeat in AZ startsr-and that
defeat unexpected tossed into him
hv Schmeling in their meeting. was
throuehlv erased in the return
bout when Louis required only q
minutes I second OF one round to-
utterly demolish the German.
His incredible success sets light
ly on Louis powerful shoulders.
ont OF the ring. Joe no longer is
the shy. bewildered colored hoy who
crashed the Big Time by knocking
out camera four summers ago. He
has "heen around met people. and
picked up poise and polish. But he
still Is the same quiet. mildman-
nered soft-spoken. modest youth
who came ont OF he River Rouge
plant ~ The Ford Motor Company,
where he laborcd for S. per day. 10
win tho National a. a. Y. light
heavywei.ht championship in The
spring OF 1884.
A great champion, is Joe Louis.
and a real gentleman and sports
man with it. a distinct credit 10
his race. to his country and to me
boxing profession
Invested wisely
.rouis has done we'll with his ring
earnings. lie has invested wisely III
annuiiies and real estate. His ador-
ed mother has been we'll taken care
OF. and Joe could retire now. as
,ured OF comfort and ease for the
remainder OF his days,
But Louis has no intention Of
hanging up the gloves for a while
he will continue 10 ply his trade so
long as opponents can he promoted
for him lie feels he should he
cham pion at least another three or
four years Then
lie doesn't know. His tastes are
simple and he thinks he'd Ike TO
retire TO farm somewhere with
horses and COWS and chickens and
things and let the rest OF the mad
world go hy....
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