Less information might be available on George Poage than any other Hall of Famer, but what is there demonstrates he was a pioneer for African-American athletes. Poage first starred in track at the University of Wisconsin.

In 1904, he became the first African American athlete in history to win a medal in the Olympics. Poage finished third in the 200 and 400 meter races to take bronze medals. Poage was said to have a strong, yet graceful running style that ate up the ground in any race.