Help Bring Jim Thorpe Home by Participating in an Online Petition

Native News Network Staff in Native Challenges. Discussion »

Jim Thorpe-Sac & Fox

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - The legendary great Jim Thorpe family and the Sac & Fox Nation want to have Jim Thorpe's remains returned to Oklahoma for a proper burial with dignity and respect.

They are involved in a lawsuit gain control of Thorpe's remains and reinterred on tribal land in Oklahoma.

Currently, there is an online movement to demonstrate the public of support of the doing the right thing by having Thorpe's remains to tribal land in Oklahoma. Supporters of this effort have an online petition to support their efforts.

Go to www.JimThorpeRestinPeace.com

Thorpe's son William remembers vividly the circumstances by which he and his brothers lost control of their father's casket. He tells the story of how after his father died in California in 1953, his body was brought back to his home state for burial. Jim Thorpe was to be buried near where he grew up, near Shawnee, Oklahoma.

The funeral services were going well. His father was given a Catholic funeral and then turned over to the traditionalists who were performing a burial ceremony when Jim Thorpe's third wife, Patricia "Pasty" Thorpe - a non-Native - showed up during dinner hour with police officers who had a court order to turn the casket over to them.

Even though Thorpe's sons protested, they had little recourse then, and watched in disbelief and hurt as their father's casket was taken away.

During 1954, she found two towns that were merging: Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania that were willing to name the newly created town, Jim Thorpe and build a monument in his honor. She allowed her deceased husband to be buried there.

The town has attempted to build a legacy around the great athlete's name ever since - even though he never visited there.

posted January 27, 2012 11:10 am est