Jim Thorpe
1887–1953 (age 66)
Athlete
Biography
Jim Thorpe (1887–1953) rose from the Sac and Fox Nation to Olympic glory in 1912, dominating both the pentathlon and decathlon before moving on to professional football, baseball, and basketball.
He faced hardship with resilience, advocating for Native American athletes and leaving a towering legacy celebrated in his hometown and at the Jim Thorpe burial site that bears his name.