Jim Thorpe's wife sold his bones to Pennsylvania town?

Homalosa · 02-05-2005, 10:24 PM

Somebody calm me down, please.
I just saw a clip on ABC news about Jim Thorpe and the controversy over his remains. I wanted to paste the story here but had the hardest time finding it. Anyway it seems this town in Penn was down on its luck and Patricia Thorpe, Jim Thorpe's widow, had his remains buried there in exchange for a museum, naming the town after him and money. Apparently this was all against Jim's wishes. His son wants his dad at rest in OK but Jim Thorpe, PA refuse.
Somebody please calm me down.

travelingmocs · 02-06-2005, 07:28 AM

My question is when did all this happen. Cause his wife must be really old, or she was really, really young when she married him. Just curious

Homalosa · 02-06-2005, 11:03 AM

Apparently this happened years ago when he died. The story reported that the town was so poor they had a nickel drive where every citizen donated nickels to keep the economy going. So Patricia Thorpe sees an opportunity. There were some unkept promises in the deal too. The town was told that the Football Hall of Fame would be there as well. What was horrible was the attitude of one of the men in Jim Thorpe, PA. He sits there and says, "we're not bending to any pressure, threats or claims. This is Jim Thorpe Pennsylvania and he's not going anywhere." Funny now that the town has acclaim years later from Thorpe they are happy to have him. That wasn't so when the Hall of Fame promise was broken. Then the townspeople shouted, "we were supposed to get the hall of fame, but now all we have is a dead Indian." Jim's son was emotional recalling that story. He said, "my father can't rest until he's home here in Oklahoma."

AlmostThere · 02-06-2005, 08:10 PM

The people in this world, I sware. !

travelingmocs · 02-07-2005, 10:25 PM

Well this all is a same. To me it looks like Mr.Thorpe gets messed over in death as he did in life when his olympic medals were taken away from him. I agree with his son he shoud be in Oklahoma where he was from. I have been by several memorals to him out there, but never relized his remains were some where else.

mountaindew · 02-08-2005, 02:34 PM

My friend and I attended a powwow in the Jim Thorpe, PA, area back in the late 80's. We just happened upon his grave site/memorial on our way back to the motel. It was located off to the side of the road (sort of like those historical markers you see along the highways). We turned around and decided to check it out. As we walked around the memorial reading what all it had on it, we noticed that nowhere on the memorial was the fact that Jim Thorpe was a Sac and Fox Indian. We both couldn't believe it. Here was the site for one of the greatest athlete's of the 20th century and they didn't mention that he was American/Native American. I felt so sad at that time that he was buried along side the road. And the nerve of that man saying that the people in Oklahoma didn't want him. Jim Thorpe's white wife was a gold digger and sold his body to the highest bidder.

Homalosa · 02-08-2005, 11:05 PM

Now that just hurts. Jim's son is trying to use the Native Repatriation Act to help bring his dad home but one of the problems is the fact that the arrangements were made by Jim's wife, his then next of kin and beneficiary. Seems like since they're both dead now the repatriation act should supercede that contract.

02-05-2005, 10:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
Homalosa Choc-lack-chick! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Dallas, Texas (where da powwows at?) Posts: 1,586	Jim Thorpe's wife sold his bones to Pennsylvania town? Somebody calm me down, please. I just saw a clip on ABC news about Jim Thorpe and the controversy over his remains. I wanted to paste the story here but had the hardest time finding it. Anyway it seems this town in Penn was down on its luck and Patricia Thorpe, Jim Thorpe's widow, had his remains buried there in exchange for a museum, naming the town after him and money. Apparently this was all against Jim's wishes. His son wants his dad at rest in OK but Jim Thorpe, PA refuse. Somebody please calm me down. __________________ Honor and respect your elders! "Until the lion learns to speak the tales of hunting will always favor the hunter." -K'Naan O-BAM-UH!!!! www.myspace.com/thobackmuzik www.myspace.com/asanicharles

02-06-2005, 07:28 AM	#2 (permalink)
travelingmocs Teen Dancer Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: HogPit, U.S.A. and raised in hell Posts: 293	My question is when did all this happen. Cause his wife must be really old, or she was really, really young when she married him. Just curious __________________ If I do not know the answer someone else will!!!! Also forgive me, this system does not have a spell check so forgive the bad spelling

02-06-2005, 11:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
Homalosa Choc-lack-chick! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Dallas, Texas (where da powwows at?) Posts: 1,586	Apparently this happened years ago when he died. The story reported that the town was so poor they had a nickel drive where every citizen donated nickels to keep the economy going. So Patricia Thorpe sees an opportunity. There were some unkept promises in the deal too. The town was told that the Football Hall of Fame would be there as well. What was horrible was the attitude of one of the men in Jim Thorpe, PA. He sits there and says, "we're not bending to any pressure, threats or claims. This is Jim Thorpe Pennsylvania and he's not going anywhere." Funny now that the town has acclaim years later from Thorpe they are happy to have him. That wasn't so when the Hall of Fame promise was broken. Then the townspeople shouted, "we were supposed to get the hall of fame, but now all we have is a dead Indian." Jim's son was emotional recalling that story. He said, "my father can't rest until he's home here in Oklahoma." __________________ Honor and respect your elders! "Until the lion learns to speak the tales of hunting will always favor the hunter." -K'Naan O-BAM-UH!!!! www.myspace.com/thobackmuzik www.myspace.com/asanicharles

02-06-2005, 08:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
AlmostThere The Original OP CREW Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: AZ Posts: 971	The people in this world, I sware. ! __________________ blah blah blah....

02-07-2005, 10:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
travelingmocs Teen Dancer Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: HogPit, U.S.A. and raised in hell Posts: 293	Well this all is a same. To me it looks like Mr.Thorpe gets messed over in death as he did in life when his olympic medals were taken away from him. I agree with his son he shoud be in Oklahoma where he was from. I have been by several memorals to him out there, but never relized his remains were some where else. __________________ If I do not know the answer someone else will!!!! Also forgive me, this system does not have a spell check so forgive the bad spelling

02-08-2005, 02:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
mountaindew Junior Dancer Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: South of the Canadian Border Posts: 121	My friend and I attended a powwow in the Jim Thorpe, PA, area back in the late 80's. We just happened upon his grave site/memorial on our way back to the motel. It was located off to the side of the road (sort of like those historical markers you see along the highways). We turned around and decided to check it out. As we walked around the memorial reading what all it had on it, we noticed that nowhere on the memorial was the fact that Jim Thorpe was a Sac and Fox Indian. We both couldn't believe it. Here was the site for one of the greatest athlete's of the 20th century and they didn't mention that he was American/Native American. I felt so sad at that time that he was buried along side the road. And the nerve of that man saying that the people in Oklahoma didn't want him. Jim Thorpe's white wife was a gold digger and sold his body to the highest bidder.

02-08-2005, 11:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
Homalosa Choc-lack-chick! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Dallas, Texas (where da powwows at?) Posts: 1,586	Now that just hurts. Jim's son is trying to use the Native Repatriation Act to help bring his dad home but one of the problems is the fact that the arrangements were made by Jim's wife, his then next of kin and beneficiary. Seems like since they're both dead now the repatriation act should supercede that contract. __________________ Honor and respect your elders! "Until the lion learns to speak the tales of hunting will always favor the hunter." -K'Naan O-BAM-UH!!!! www.myspace.com/thobackmuzik www.myspace.com/asanicharles

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Wife From Hell	nt_inuk	Jokes and Humor	12	02-01-2005 12:11 AM