Images(4)

Award

Object number2016.100.10

Date1953

MediumMetal/Fabric/Enamel/Adhesive

Credit LineGift of Frederick W. Lenn, Jr.

DescriptionArmed Forces Interservice Award. Round medal with red, white, and blue fabric ribbon attached for wearing around neck. Medal is silver metal with decoration and text. Front has text around the perimeter identifying the award, a shallow relief of two boxers fighting set over branches, and at bottom center is a red, white, and blue enameled shield with stars and stripes in reference to the American flag. Back has text across center.Dimensions16.875 x 1.75 in., 0.125 in. (42.9 x 4.4 cm, 0.3 cm)
InscriptionsFront has raised text around the perimeter "ARMED FORCES INTERSERVICE AWARD 1953".

Back has text across center "MANAGER".
Historical NotesPart of a collection that documents the military boxing career of donor Frederick W. Lenn, Jr.'s father, Freddie Lenn. Lenn was born Frederick Walter Lenkoski on December 29th, 1914, in Pittsburgh's South Side neighborhood. He learned to box at the boxing program set-up by Father Cox, the famous social activist priest from Pittsburgh. He began to amateur box in 1930, at the Frawley Athletic Club. At age 17, he won the lightweight championship in the Golden Gloves. A year later he enlisted in the Marines. He spent 1934 to 1936 in Shanghai where he continued to box for the military. He won the "Light Heavyweight Champion of the Orient" at the All Asiatic match. He returned to Pittsburgh and went pro after signing with promoter Art Rooney. His last pro fight was in 1940. After Pearl Harbor he was called from the reserves and went on active duty in the South Pacific where he began his coaching career in the Marine Corps. He was a boxing trainer for the 1959-1960 Pan Am games where Cassius Clay participated. He was the first military trainer to become a head Olympic boxing coach for the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. He retired from the Marines in 1968.

Previous owner Fredrick Walter Lenn Sr. (born 1914)

Related person Father James Renshaw Cox (1886 - 1951)

Related institution Frawley Athletic Club

Subjects

Terms

On View

Not on view