JIM THORPE - Mondayseemed hardly out of place here in the borough that bears the name of and serves as - for now - the final resting place of celebrated Olympian Jim Thorpe.
Senior U.S. District Judge A. Richard Caputo ruled earlier this month that based on a federal law, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990, celebrated athlete Jim Thorpe's body could be removed and taken back to Oklahoma, where his sons claim he wanted a Native American burial on Sac and Fox Nation land to honor his Native American roots, according to published reports.
George Papas and Don Mott, both of Weston, were out sightseeing and decided to stop by the Jim Thorpe Mausoleum to pay their respects as they have in the past. But this trip was a little different.
Mr. Papas wondered if it would be the last time the two would see it. Mr. Mott said he talked to many locals who are disappointed by the ruling but Mr. Papas said if Mr. Thorpe's children feel their father would have preferred being buried on Native American soil, then they have a right to do so.
Mr. Thorpe's remains were brought to Mauch Chunk and the town was named Jim Thorpe in his honor in 1954, according to a monument at the mausoleum.
Kim Kostak of Schuylkill County believed removing Mr. Thorpe's remains will damage the area.
"This is his legacy. If he's not here who's going to come?" Ms. Kostak said.
Mr. Thorpe was born May 28, 1888, in Oklahoma. Among his many athletic achievements were his Olympic gold medals in the 1912 pentathlon and decathlon in Stockholm, Sweden, where King Gustav V said, "Sir, you are the greatest athlete in the world."
He played football at the collegiate and professional levels and also professional baseball and basketball. Mr. Thorpe died March 28, 1953.
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