Tennessee State’s Temple, Boston remember Ali
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Former Tennessee State University track and field coach Ed Temple and Olympic gold medalist and Tennessee State alumnus Ralph Boston are sharing their memories of Muhammad Ali.
The university said in a news release that their friendship with Ali began in 1960, when all three went to Rome for the 1960 Olympics. Temple says Ali told him then that he would one day be the world heavyweight champion.
Ali, known then as Cassius Clay, won a gold medal, and Boston won a gold medal in the long jump competition that year. He said he and Ali met in New York waiting for their plane to Rome. Boston said Ali “had brashness” but “was always very cordial.”
Both men said Ali became friends too with Tennessee State Alumna Wilma Rudolph, who won three gold medals in 1960.
Ali died late Friday in Arizona.
