William David Tatum is an athlete, author, historian, lecturer, philanthropist and international entrepreneur whose motto is “To be of service to others is the greatest freedom of all.” The times demand that someone pick up the ball and William D. Tatum has undertaking this charism.

His inspiration and role model has been his uncle Edward Orval Gourdin, the great Harvard Scholar, Athlete, Soldier and Judge who, on July 23¸ 1921 established a new world record in the long jump of 25 feet 3 inches, the first man in the world to long jump over 25 feet. It is the oldest track and field record at Harvard University. He was the National Pentathlon Champion in 1921 and 1922. Edward Orval Gourdin became the first African- American to win a silver medal in the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, France. He graduated from Harvard Law School and was the first African-American appointed to the Superior Court of the State of Massachusetts. The only portrait of an African-American in a Massachusetts courtroom is that of Edward Orval Gourdin. He served six years as the Commanding Officer of the 372nd Infantry, appointed Colonel in September, 1942 and retired a Brigadier General. He was elected President of the 1964 Olympics Committee by National Elections.

Edward Orval Gourdin’s list of notable accomplishments extends beyond his adulthood back as far as his grade school years. He attended the Stanton High School, a school established in 1868 as the first high school for Negroes in Florida after the Civil War. True to his form, he graduated as class valedictorian. The new Stanton High School is a college preparatory school. In tribute to his accomplishments, the school’s track facility will be named the Edward Orval Gourdin Track and Field Facility.

In 1950, William D. Tatum, running for Boston English High School, was named “Goose” on defeating forty-one runners at the annual 2 1⁄2 mile cross country race held between Greater Boston High Schools. In 1952, as a member of the Penn Relays victorious Two Mile Relay Championship of America, William D. Tatum received his first gold watch.

In May 2005, Mr. Tatum, gave a speech to the Stanton High School Alumni in Jacksonville, Florida, entitled “From Slavery to Achievement 1722-2005”. In his speech, he outlined the genealogy of the Gourdin(e) Family and the achievements of his uncle, Edward Orval Gourdin.

He is also guest speaker for the Gourdin Family Association which meets semi-annually. Mr. Tatum commissioned the first bronze bust of Edward Orval Gourdin by the noted African-American sculptor George Nock to be unveiled in Jacksonville, Florida. Plans are being formulated to install a bust of Judge Gourdin in the collection of the Harvard Law School. In addition, discussions are in progress with the Harvard University Athletic Department to have the statue of Judge Gourdin placed in Harvard Stadium to confirm the establishment of the World Record in the Long Jump of 25 feet, 3 inches—still standing after 86 years!

Mr. Tatum’s lifelong commitment has been to promote the further understanding of African-American history. He has been a guest speaker before the banquet audience of the African-American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame in Sacramento, California on the evening of July 8, 2004. That evening, ten African-American Olympians were honored before the Olympic Trials. The audience viewed the film of the 1924 Olympic Games which Mr. Tatum secured in Paris, France, showing Edward Orval Gourdin’s Long Jump. Mr. Tatum enlisted the names of the ten Olympians to place on the pedestal of the bust and statue of Edward Orval Gourdin.

Mr. Tatum is the publisher of the Black Olympians Magazine, 1904-2004 to be published in September, 2006.

In addition to Kat Watch, Inc., Mr. Tatum is President and CEO of Overslav Posters Ltd., Jamaica Flyers Corp., Karlos Books Corp., Hell Fighters, Inc., and Booker T. Smith Foundation.

Overslav Posters Ltd. was constructed and developed to place in the public square the achievements of African-Americans. All ethnicities can and will benefit from this understanding.

The Jamaica Flyers website was established to honor his Coach Joseph Yancey who allowed him to run for the New York Pioneer Club in 1953.

William David Tatum is an active member of the English High School Alumni Association in Boston where he has become a popular speaker during graduation ceremonies and has awarded the William Tatum‘To Be Of Service To Others’ Watch to fifteen women and fifteen men in recognition of those seniors who demonstrated special leadership and service during their time at the school. All those receiving the William Tatum ‘To Be Of Service To Others’ Watch are now members of the extended Uncle Goose Family located throughout the United States of America. In 1993, Bill Tatum was inducted into the English High School Athletic Hall of Fame.