&#8220;BRIGHT PATH STRONG -The Resiliency Of Jim Thorpe&#8221;, Part 6, whose life and legacy will soon be presented in an upcom

“BRIGHT PATH STRONG -The Resiliency Of Jim Thorpe”, whose life and legacy will soon be presented in an upcoming Hollywood film! Sixth In A Series – The Jim Thorpe Memorial – A Surreal Awestruck Visit -Photo Essay

This has been a lot of Olympic history as Jeff Benjamin gives the late Jim Thorpe and his fans a voice!

A Surreal & Awestruck Visit To The Haunted Legacy Of Jim Thorpe.

Jim Thorpe statue, photo by Jeff Benjamin

By Jeff Benjamin

About two miles away and uphill from the thousands of white water rapids tourists and visitors coming to the town of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, the namesake Athletic Legend’s body lays in a small yet immaculate memorial park, replete with richly descriptive statues, markers, and praiseworthy tributes.

Jim Thorpe plaque, photo by Jeff Benjamin

Yet, despite the appreciation and awe, one cannot help but feel surreal over how Thorpe’s remains wound up here as the 1912 Olympic Champion never set foot here while alive.

Jim Thorpe statue, with discus, photo by Jeff Benjamin

In this epic controversy and subsequent court battles involving Thorpe’s family and the Town which culminated with the United States Supreme Court, both sides seem to be firmly entrenched with no hope for now of any just decision.

Jim Thorpe plaque 2, photo by Jeff Benjamin

A good summary of the case can be found here from 2013 –

Jim Thorpe history , photo by Jeff Benjamin

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P79UlGvCgzc

The US Supreme Court’s Decision To Not Hear The Appeal from 2015 –

Jim Thorpe history: The Carlisle Years, photo by Jeff Benjamin

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2015/10/06/sports/supreme-court-declines-to-hear-jim-thorpe-appeal.amp.html

So, for now, for better or for worse, Jim Thorpe rests here in the town of Jim Thorpe, PA, but perhaps not peacefully.

Jim Thorpe history: The 1912 Olympics, photo by Jeff Benjamin

Bell Lap –

-For more information on the film please go to

https://brightpathmovie.com/

– A petition for the reinstatement of Jim Thorpe into the official IOC record books can be found here at

https://brightpathstrong.com/petition

– Robert Wheeler’s paramount Jim Thorpe biography is getting a reissue soon BUT if you wish to purchase a copy now check out

https://www.amazon.com/Jim-Thorpe-Worlds-Greatest-Athlete/dp/0806117451

Author

Jeff Benjamin

Senior Writer Jeff Benjamin has written for almost 40 years for RunBlogRun! The Former President of the Staten Island AC & was the 5th man scorer for his 1982 Susan Wagner High School NYC XC City Championship team. Also a member of the College of Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame for XC, Jeff is also a retired NYC DOE history teacher. Some of Jeff's subjects have included Sebastian Coe, Eamonn Coghlan, Matt Centrowitz, Billy Mills, Joe Newton, Tom Fleming, Bill Rodgers, Abel Kiviat, Frank Shorter, Rod Dixon and Carl Lewis as well as Book Reviews and articles covering track meets and races primarily in the Northeast U.S. and beyond.

Jeff has also covered Track & Field events at the 1996, 2016 & 2024 Olympic Games as well as the 2022 World T&F Championships in Eugene, Oregon. A noted T&F historian and chronicler of the athletic achievements of Jim Thorpe, Jeff helped with the restoration of Thorpe to the official IOC 1912 Record Books.

In 2023 Jeff was honored with the awarded the prestigious James Dunaway memorial award for excellence in Track and Field journalism by the Track and Field Writers Association.

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