Honoring the legacy of Clarksville native Wilma Rudolph

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — You can’t travel through the City of Clarksville and not feel Wilma Rudolph’s impact.

From street signs to statues, she’s influenced many like that of Patti Marquess.

“When I was eight years old, of course the news…made it to Hopkinsville that a Clarksville girl had won three gold medals at the 1960s Olympics,” she said.

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Growing up nearby in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Marquess came from an era where women’s sports didn’t exist just yet in county schools.

“In 1966 when I started high school at Christian County High School, there were no girl sports at all,” she said.

However, Marquees believes Wilma played a huge role in her high school finally getting a girls track team filled with both Black and white runners.

“In two years, we won two state championships back-to-back,” she said.

In 1940, Rudolph was born in Clarksville, the 20th out of 22 children.

Polio paralyzed her when she was a child, but by the time she was 12, she began to walk and soon went on to be a world renowned sprinter.

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It was the 1960 Summer Olympic Games in Rome where she raced to gold and broke three world records.

Those looking to learn of her story and see some of her prized possessions on display only have to head over to the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center in Clarksville.

“I had the privilege of knowing Wilma personally in the latter years of her life,” said Executive Director Frank Lott.

Lott was one of the key people that helped design Rudolph’s permanent exhibit that officially went on display back in 1996.

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“We promised Wilma that at some point when this building expanded, there would be dedicated space for the items that she had given us from her personal memoirs and her personal collection from the Rome Olympics,” he said.

She championed for civil rights, starting with her own celebratory parade that took place in Clarksville once she returned home from the Olympics.

“She says there will be no parade unless its an integrated parade,” said Lott. “There will be no banquet unless it’s an integrated banquet, and so she immediately used her bully bull pit to further her beliefs in social justice.”

Marquees had the honor of meeting Rudolph in 1984 when she won her race at the city’s inaugural Wilma Rudolph road race.

“She shook my hand and patted me on the shoulder and really kind of gave me that boost to tell me to hang in there with it,” she said.

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Even though Rudolph is no longer here, her legacy will always remain in Clarksville no matter where you look.

“She found that and used all of her skills to leave us with a message that’s about what it is that makes greatness,” said Lott.

Rudolph died at the age of 54 from cancer.

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Marquees and Lott are married but were just dating when they both met Rudolph at the inaugural run in 1984.

Marquees said Rudolph was the inspiration that helped her push her husband and get him into running road races with her.

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