February 13, 2014 - Olympian Herb Douglas Joins Effort to Save SS United States

Herb DouglasSupport for the SS United States is growing by leaps and bounds, and now more than ever the Conservancy is calling on all Americans to rally for our country's namesake Flagship. Now that the world’s attention is focused on the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, we are proud to announce that legendary Olympian Herb Douglas has answered that call and has pledged his support for saving the SS United States."I won my Olympic medal 66 years ago, four years before the SS United States won her own prize for breaking the transatlantic speed record, Douglas said.  “There are many great Olympic champions, but there is only one great American ocean liner still with us: the SS United States.  We must save her!"Douglas is the oldest living African American Olympian, having won a bronze medal at the 1948 summer games in London.  Douglas is renowned for his dedication to racial equality, integrity, and sports excellence.  The creator of the Jesse Owens Award for Peace, Douglas knows what it means to work hard and fight for what is right. This prestigious award has been bestowed upon world leaders such as the late Nelson Mandela and former US president George H. W. Bush.We're in a race against time to save our ship. With support from champions like Douglas, as well as tennis legend and member of the official US delegation to Sochi, Billie Jean King, we can win this race.  It will require hard work, perseverance, and generosity.  As Douglas explains, you don't have to be an Olympian to lend a hand: "I am so proud to lend my support to the Conservancy as it works to rescue and restore a true American champion, the SS United States."