Jim Thorpe recognized

Only in Oklahoma:  Thorpe not diminished in eyes of worldAlthough the committee stripped Thorpe of his honors, it couldn't discount his feats or take back the words of King Gustav V, who told him in a congratulatory speech: "Sir, you are the greatest athlete in the world. It would be an honor to shake your hand."

Nor could it diminish the esteem felt by American sports writers who voted Thorpe the athlete of the half-century in 1950; nor of Oklahomans who voted Thorpe their favorite son--after Will Rogers--in a 1988 poll by the AP to pick the state's favorite son or daughter. The AP had told those being polled to assume that Will Rogers was the favorite son and to list 10 others as their favorite son or daughter.

Thorpe also was included in the first group of athletes inducted into Pro Football's Hall of Fame in 1963. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1950.