Joseph Louis Barrow was born May 13, 1914, near LaFayette, Alabama, in a tenant shack on Buckalew Mountain. He became Joe Louis, the Brown Bomber. On June 22, 1937, Joe KO'd Jim Braddock to become the World Heavyweight Boxing Champion. He had lost to Max Schmeling in June of 1936. In 1938, at Yankee Stadium, Louis got vengeance 2:04 into the first round. He retired March 1, 1949, with a record of 68 wins, 3 losses and 54 knockouts. He had defended his title on 24 occasions. Joe tried to come out of retirement twice; Ezzard Charles prevented it in 1950, and Rocky Marciano stopped him in 1951. Joe died April 22, 1981, in Las Vegas, Nevada. President Ronald Reagan presented to Joe posthumously the American's Award on May 11, 1984.