Letter: Highlighting Native American athletes

Dear Editor:

Here are some more Native American facts.

Jim Thorpe, May 28, 1888-March 28, 1953: First Native American to win an Olympic gold medal. He won two gold medals at the 1912 Olympics; he set records in both decathlon and classic pentathlon. He was of Sac and Fox Nation Tribe. He is considered to be one of the greatest athletes of the 20th Century.

Billy Mills, born June 30, 1938: He was of the Oglala Lakota Tribe. He was a three-time NCAA All-American cross country runner and 1960 Big Eight cross country championship.

Ellison Brown, Sept. 22, 1913-Aug. 23, 1975: He was of the Narragansett Tribe. He was known to be one of the greatest long distance runners in U.S. history. He became the second Native American to win the Boston Marathon in 1936 and 1939.. He was also a U.S. Olympian in 1936.

John “Chief” Meyers, July 29, 1880-July 25, 1971: He was a baseball player. He was of the Cahuilla Tribe. He played in four different World Series.

Joe Hipp, born Dec. 7, 1962: He was a professional heavyweight boxer and a member of the Blackfeet Tribe. His career ended with a 43-7 record.

Native pride.

Johnny Mott

Sikeston, Missouri