Born May 28, 1888, Shawnee, Okla. Died February 28, 1953.

Acknowledged as perhaps the greatest athlete of the 20th century and perhaps of all-time, James "Jim" Thorpe excelled in every sport he attempted. His track prowess became apparent at Carlisle Indian School and his performances at the 1912 Olympic Games still remain some of the greatest Olympic feats of all time.

A Sac-Fox Indian, he won both the 1912 Olympic decathlon and pentathlon, setting a world record in the former event, although it was the first and only time he ever competed in it. In individual competition, he was fourth in the high jump and seventh in the long jump. His performances, however, were blemished when it was revealed he had played semi-pro baseball in 1911, thus stripping him of the Olympic medals and the Olympic and world records. It wasn't until 1983 that Thorpe's medals were reinstated. Besides track, Thorpe also played college and professional football and was one of the first stars of the National Football League, being a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame. He also played major league baseball with several teams. He was elected to the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1983.