Foy Draper

Foy Draper (November 26, 1911 – February 1, 1943) was an American track and field athlete who won a gold medal in 4 × 100 m relay at the 1936 Summer Olympics. As a University of Southern California student, Draper won the IC4A championships in 200 m in 1935.

Foy Draper

U.S. relay team at the 1936 Olympics: Jesse Owens, Ralph Metcalfe, Foy Draper and Frank Wykoff
Personal information
Born	November 26, 1911 Georgetown, Texas, United States
Died	February 1, 1943 (aged 31) Kasserine Pass, Kasserine, Tunisia
Alma mater	University of Southern California
Height	1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Weight	54 kg (119 lb)
Sport
Sport	Track and field
Event(s)	100 m
Club	USC Trojans, Los Angeles
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	100 m – 10.3 (1936)[1]
Medal record Representing the  United States Olympic Games 1936 Berlin 4×100 m relay

He reportedly held the world record for the 100-yard dash, at the time that would have been a hand timed 9.4, made all that more remarkable with Draper standing only 5'5".[2]

At the Berlin Olympics, Draper ran the third leg in the American 4 × 100 m relay team, which won the gold medal in a world record time of 39.8.[1]

During World War II, Draper served as a pilot on a twin-engine attack bomber A-20B 'Havoc' in Thelepte, Tunisia. On January 4, 1943,[3] Draper took off to fly to Fonduck, Tunisia to take part of the battle of Kassarine Pass. Draper and his two crewmen never returned and his death date is usually given as February 1, 1943. He is buried in the North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial administered by the American Battle Monuments Commission in Carthage, Tunisia. His gravestone shows January 4, 1943 as his date of death.[1]