A Look Back
By Fred Miller
Eighty-three years ago this week, Ocean City was featured in the national news thanks to Archie Harris and Billy Conn. Harris set a world record discus toss, and Conn almost beat world champion Joe Louis. Harris grew up in Ocean City, while Conn, who grew up in Pittsburgh, vacationed in Ocean City.
“HARRIS SHATTERS DISCUS STANDARD; Toss of 174 Feet 8 ¾ Inches in N.C.A.A. Meet on Coast Breaks World Record” was the headline in the June 21, 1941 New York Times. The article reported, “Giant Archie Harris, great Negro athlete from the University of Indiana, cloaked himself in international glory today bettering the world record in the discus throw at the National Collegiate Athletic Association track and field championship. He sent the platter sailing 174 feet 8 ¾ inches.”
“LOUIS, NEAR DEFEAT, STOPS CONN IN THE 13th AND RETAINS CROWN” was the headline on the front page of the June 19, 1941 New York Times. The article began, “Joe Louis still is world heavyweight champion, after his eighteenth defense of the title he won four years ago from Jim Braddock in Chicago.
“The famed fighter sank Billy Conn, former world light-heavyweight champion, with a depth-bomb in the thirteenth round battle before a crowd of 54,487 wildly excited fight fans, who paid $450,000 in the Polo Grounds last night.”
Both Harris and Conn received coverage in the June 30, 1941 Newsweek magazine. “The University of Indiana’s 50-point second place (University of Southern California won the N.C.A.A. championship) was partly due to strength in the distance events, but mostly to the efforts of Archie Harris. Though he placed second to Al Blozis of Georgetown in the shot put, Harris sailed the discus 174 feet 8 ¾ inches to better the world’s record by 6 ¼ inches.”
After reviewing the classic fight the article reported, “Louis collected $154,404 of the $451,743 gate and injured right wrist; Conn got $77,202 ($1,426,178 in 2021 money) and some wounded feelings. The latter occurred when his prospective father-in-law, James L. Smith of Pittsburgh, forbade his daughter Mary Louise to marry the defeated challenger. Smith added insult to injury by threatening to punch Conn in the nose without benefit of clergy or referee.”
The next issue of Time magazine included a picture of Mary Louise Smith and Billy Conn above this caption, “BILLY CONN & BRIDE.” No report of Billy getting punched in the nose!
