Paperweight
Paperweight
Paperweight

Paperweight

Object number2016.100.9
Date1964
MediumPlastic/Metal/Brass(?)
Credit LineGift of Frederick W. Lenn, Jr.
DescriptionClear plastic paperweight. Flat circle with flattened bottom edge. Gold-tone metal (brass?) medallion suspended inside plastic with gold-tone metal (brass?) identification plate suspended below. Medallion has decoration and text: one side has shield at center with the Olympic rings at top and vertical stripes below, the shield is surrounded by radiating lines and there is text around the perimeter; the other side has a relief of a tall and narrow building set over a wreath of laurel. The identification plate has raised text on both sides identifying the Olympic games.Dimensions3.125 x 3.375 x 0.75 in. (7.9 x 8.6 x 1.9 cm)
InscriptionsOne side of the medallion has raised text around the perimeter "UNITED STATES OLYMPIC COMMITTEE".

The other side of the medallion has raised text at the base of the building "OLYMPIC HOUSE".

The identification plate has raised text on both sides "TOKYO / 1964".
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.
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