Once timesaving innovations gave Americans leisure time, the golden age of sports emerged.

Enter Gene Oberst. Born with a disability, it took a haphazard event involving a stray javelin to make the entire world, and Gene himself, realize he was more than a bookworm-he was a natural-born athlete.

Growing up in a Twain-like, Ohio River town, the ideals of his large, self-sustaining family and their dedication to educate themselves fed Gene's persistent and diligent nature.

That determination led him to play college football for the national championship, Notre Dame...