John Woodruff

Lieutenant John Woodruff of 369th Coastal Artillery Regiment at Fort Ontario, ca. 1941

Fort Ontario State Historic Site, Oswego, New York

Quick Facts

Significance:

Buffalo Soldier & 1936 Olympic Gold Medalist

Place of Birth:

Connellsville, Pennsylvania

Date of Birth:

July 15, 1915

Place of Death:

Fountain Hills, Arizona

Date of Death:

October 30, 2007

Place of Burial:

Indianapolis, Indiana

Cemetery Name:

Crown Hill Cemetery, Section 46, Lot 86

John Youie Woodruff was born on July 15, 1915, in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. Woodruff was one of twelve children. His father, Silas, worked in the coal mines for the J.C. Frick Coke Company, while his mother, Sarah, worked as a laundress.

During the Great Depression, Woodruff dropped out of school to help his family. However, employers in Connellsville weren’t hiring many African Americans. Woodruff tried to join the Navy but was told the quota for African American enlistees had been met. Unable to find work, Woodruff's parents encouraged him to return to school.

Woodruff returned to school and enrolled in Connellsville High School. He joined the football team and the assistant football coach, who was also the track coach, suggested he join the track team. Woodruff’s mother disliked him on the football team because he'd get home late which interfered with his chores. Track practices ended earlier, so Woodruff’s mother gave her blessing for him to join the team. Woodruff quickly became a champion middle-distance runner. He set a national high school record for the mile race at four minutes and 23.4 seconds. Sadly, his mother died of cancer at the age of 59 in early 1935, months before he graduated high school.

In 1935, Woodruff earned a track scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Black students were not allowed to live on campus, so Woodruff lived at the nearby YMCA. To support himself, he worked as a janitor and grounds keeper at the university. On team trips, Woodruff stayed with local Black families as he couldn't stay in the team hotels. Despite the lack of accommodations, Woodruff continued to excel as a middle-distance runner. At the end of his freshman year, he convinced his coach to let him try out for the US Olympic team.

On July 11, 1936, Woodruff placed first in the 800 meters event and earned a spot on the US Olympic team. On July 15, 1936, the 400 US Olympic athletes boarded the SS Manhattan to Berlin, Germany. Woodruff joined eighteen African Americans on the team, including Ralph Metcalfe, Matthew "Mack" Robinson, and Jesse Owens. In the 1936 Olympics, Woodruff won the men’s 800-meter race. He became the first African American to win a gold medal in the games. Eight other African American US Olympians also won medals. Including Jesse Owens who won four gold medals. The Olympic winners were also presented a tree sapling. Woodruff had his sapling planted at the Connellsville Free Library in his hometown. The tree was later moved to the Connellsville High School stadium and is still there today.

After the Olympics, Woodruff returned to compete for the University of Pittsburgh. He won the Amateur Athletic Union 800-meter championship in 1937. As well as the National Collegiate Athletic Association 880-yard titles from 1937, 1938, and 1939. In 1939, Woodruff graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. He moved to New York City, New York and enrolled in New York University. In 1940, at the Compton Invitational in Los Angeles, California, Woodruff ran the 800-meters race in one minute and 48.6 seconds, a US record that lasted for 12 years.

On January 2, 1941, Woodruff enlisted in the New York National Guard. He was assigned to the all-Black 369th Coast Artillery Regiment. Woodruff withdrew from New York University to devote his time to the regiment. He was later commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the 369th.

On January 15, 1941, the 369th was assigned to Fort Ontario in Oswego, New York, for anti-aircraft equipment training. While at Fort Ontario, they hosted sport exhibitions attended by the local community. Jesse Owens, fellow 1936 US Olympian, visited Woodruff during this time. The two participated in the track exhibitions hosted at the fort. Woodruff also participated in several sporting events hosted by the military. In September 1941, the 369th relocated to Camp Edwards in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States prepared to enter World War II. In January 1942, the 369th relocated at Fort Monroe, Virginia for further training. On June 21, 1942, the 369th was the first all-Black unit deployed to the Pacific Theater. They were stationed in Oahu, Hawaii to defend the Marine Corps Air Station Ewa. As many of the soldiers in the 369th were from Harlem, they nicknamed their camp in Oahu, “Little Harlem”.

On December 12, 1943, the 369th Coastal Artillery Regiment was divided into the 369th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion and the 870th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion. Woodruff was assigned to the 369th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion.

The 369th were attached to the all-Black 93rd Infantry Division. They engaged in defensive and tactical operations in New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. On August 12, 1945, they landed in Okinawa, Japan to defend Allied Forces until the end of the war. After the war, Woodruff was honorably discharged as a Captain. He later graduated from New York University with his master’s degree in sociology.

In 1947, Woodruff returned to the 369th and was promoted to Major. In 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981, which started to desegregate the military. Woodruff was placed in command of two battalions in the 369th, one of which was still all-Black and one that was recently integrated. On September 11, 1950, the 369th were federalized for the Korean War.

On January 30, 1951, they were stationed at Camp Edwards for additional training. On October 8, 1951, they were stationed at Fort Hancock, New Jersey to operate the 90mm Anti-Aircraft guns. This was the first stateside defense station in response to the Cold War. On September 10, 1952, the 369th was deactivated from federal service and returned as a unit of the New York National Guard.

In 1955, Woodruff was assigned to the 569th Field Artillery Battalion of the New York National Guard. That summer, he led the 569th during relief efforts in New York City caused by Hurricanes Connie and Diane. In 1957, Woodruff retired from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Woodruff worked with the New York City Children’s Aid Society and taught in the public schools. He served as a welfare investigator and parole officer for New York City. Then as the recreation center director for the New York City Police Athletic League. During this time, Woodruff officiated local track meets and helped as a coach.

In 1968, Woodruff moved to Indianapolis, Indiana. He worked as the assistant director for a Job Corps Center. In 1972, he returned to Germany for the Munich Olympics as a guest of the government. In 1990, Woodruff retired and moved to Fountain Hills, Arizona. He donated his Olympic Gold Medal to the University of Pittsburgh. It is still on display in the Hillman Library.

On October 30, 2007, John Woodruff died at the age of 92. He was cremated and his ashes were interred in his wife’s family plot at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana.

In 2022, John Woodruff was inducted into the Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame.