Mel Patton

Mel Patton (actually Melvin Emery Patton, born November 16, 1924 in Los Angeles ) is a former American sprinter and Olympic gold medalist.

Patton had his athletic achievements while he was a student at the University of Southern California. After his time as an active athlete, he worked for several years as a trainer in athletics, before moving fully into the electronics industry.

1947, 1948 and 1949, he won the 100 yards at the NCAA Championships, where he also won in 1949 over 220 yards. In 1947, he presented with 9.4 seconds to set a new world record he improved in the following year to 9.3 seconds. In 1949 he broke the world record held by Jesse Owens over 220 yards.

At the 1948 Olympic Games in London, he was in the 100 - meter race in fifth, but won the gold medal in the 200 - meter dash in front of the other U.S. Amerikaber Barney Ewell ( silver ) and the Panamanians Lloyd La Beach ( Bronze), as well as the team gold medal in the 4 x 100 - meter relay, along with his teammates Barney Ewell, Lorenzo Wright and Harrison Dillard, before the teams from Great Britain ( silver ) and Italy ( bronze).