FILE – Olympic-medalist and former Moët Hennessy executive Herb Douglas attends the unveiling of artist Kadir Nelson’s inspired art sculpture titled, “The Major,” at the World Trade Center, Wednesday, May 15, 2019, in New York. Douglas, who turned a chance encounter with Jesse Owens as a young teenager into fuel to win a bronze medal in the long jump at the 1948 Olympics, has died. He was 101. The University of Pittsburgh, where Douglas starred on both the football and track teams before later serving in various roles for his alma mater, said Douglas died Saturday, April 22, 2023. (Andrew Kelly/AP Images for Hennessy, File)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Herb Douglas, who turned a chance encounter with Jesse Owens as a teenager into fuel to win a bronze medal in the long jump at the 1948 Olympics, has died at 101. The University of Pittsburgh, where Douglas starred on both the football and track teams before later serving in various roles for his alma mater, said Douglas died Saturday. Douglas was 14 when he met Owens in the Pittsburgh neighborhood where Douglas grew up. Douglas told Owens he dreamed of reaching the Olympics, and Owens encouraged Douglas to get a college education. Douglas was inducted into the inaugural Pitt athletics Hall of Fame class in 2018. The university is naming the 300-meter indoor track at its planned Victory Heights facility after Douglas.