WWII, Joe Louis Recruitment Poster, 1942
Realizing Louis's potential for raising esprit de corps among the troops, the Army placed him in its Special Services Division rather than sending him into combat. Louis went on a celebrity tour with other notables, including fellow boxer Sugar Ray Robinson. He traveled more than 22,000 miles and staged 96 boxing exhibitions before two million soldiers. Joseph Louis Barrow (May 13, 1914 - April 12, 1981) was an African-American professional boxer and the World Heavyweight Champion from 1937-49. He made 25 defenses of his Heavyweight title and was a world champion for 11 years and 10 months. Both are still records in the heavyweight division, the former in any division. In 2005, Louis was ranked as the #1 heavyweight of all-time by the International Boxing Research Organization, and was ranked #1 on The Ring's list of the 100 Greatest Punchers of All-Time. He is widely regarded as the first African-American to achieve the status of a nationwide hero within the USA, and was also a focal point of anti-Nazi sentiment leading up to and during WWII. He was instrumental in integrating the game of golf, breaking the sport's color barrier in America by appearing under a sponsor's exemption in a PGA event in 1952. He died of cardiac arrest in 1981, at the age of 66. President Reagan waived the eligibility rules for burial at Arlington National Cemetery and Louis was buried there with full military honors. His funeral was paid for in part by former competitor and friend, Max Schmeling, who also acted as a pallbearer.
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