Joe Louis
Chronology
| 1914 | Born May 13 in LaFayette, Alabama |
| 1926 | Moves to Detroit, Michigan |
| 1932 | Fights first amateur boxing bout |
| 1934 | Moves in with John Roxborough, asks Roxborough to become his manager |
| 1934 | First professional boxing match, July 4 |
| 1935 | Defeats Italian Primo Carnera, June 25, and becomes media sensation |
| 1935 | Marries Marva Trotter, September 24 |
| 1935 | Defeats Max Baer to become top heavyweight contender, September 24 |
| 1936 | Loses to German Max Schmeling, June 11 |
| 1937 | Becomes World Heavyweight Champion, defeating James Braddock on June 22 |
| 1938 | Defeats Max Schmeling in rematch, June 22, becoming national hero |
| 1942 | Enlists in U.S. Army |
| 1945 | Enlistment ends in October |
| 1945 | Divorces Marva Trotter |
| 1946 | Remarries Marva |
| 1949 | Divorces Marva |
| 1949 | Retires as undefeated World Heavyweight Champion |
| 1950 | Loses comeback attempt against new heavyweight champion Ezzard Charles, September 27 |
| 1951 | Last professional boxing match, loses to Rocky Marciano, October 26 |
| 1955 | Marries Rose Morgan, a successful beauty shop operator, on December 25 |
| 1958 | Divorces Rose |
| 1959 | Marries attorney Martha Malone Jefferson |
| 1967 | Louises adopt a baby boy, naming him Joseph. Apparently, this the child of Joe Louis and a New York City prostitute, identified as "Marie" in Louis' autobiography. Martha would go on to adopt three more of Marie's children, of unknown paternity. |
| 1970 | Committed temporarily to Colorado state mental institution |
| 1970 | Takes position as greeter at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 1981 | Dies of massive heart attack on April 12 |
Additional topics
Famous Sports StarsBoxingJoe Louis Biography - Growing Up, The Amateur Years, Turning Pro, Chronology, The Brown Bomber, Awards And Accomplishments - SELECTED WRITINGS BY LOUIS: