thumb|Jim Thorpe's gravesite Following the 1953 death of athlete and Olympic medal winner Jim Thorpe, Thorpe's widow and third wife, Patricia, was impatient when, after five months, the planned memorial in Shawnee, Oklahoma had yet to raise the $100,000 to honor him. The town's citizens had paid for her, a Thorpe son and Jim's body to be shipped from California, paid and arranged for the funeral service at St. Benedict's Catholic church, and paid for the mausoleum costs at Fairview Cemetery. Then Gov. Johnston Murray vetoed a bill which would contribute funds to the erection of the memorial at Athletic Park. On Sept. 1st Mrs. Thorpe, saying she feared Jim would be buried in a potter's field, shipped the body to Tulsa where she said the Chamber of Commerce was going to build a proper memorial, which was not true. When she heard that the boroughs of Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk were desperately seeking to attract business, she made a deal with civic officials. According to Jim Thorpe's son, Jack, Patricia was motivated by money in seeking the deal.
thumb|jim thorpe's gravesite following the 1953 death of athlete and olympic medal winner jim thorpe thorpe's widow and third wife patricia was impatient when after five months the planned memorial in shawnee oklahoma had yet to raise the $100000 to honor him the town's citizens had paid for her a thorpe son and jim's body to be shipped from california paid and arranged for the funeral service at st benedict's catholic church and paid for the mausoleum costs at fairview cemetery then gov johnston murray vetoed a bill which would contribute funds to the erection of the memorial at athletic park on sept 1st mrs thorpe saying she feared jim would be buried in a potter's field shipped the body to tulsa where she said the chamber of commerce was going to build a proper memorial which was not true when she heard that the boroughs of mauch chunk and east mauch chunk were desperately seeking to attract business she made a deal with civic officials according to jim thorpe's son jack patricia was motivated by money in seeking the deal