Awards
- Commended for Oklahoma Book Award (Nonfiction) 2010
Overview
When eleven-year-old Tommy Thompson arrived at a government-run Indian boarding school in 1915, it seemed a last resort for the youngster. Instead, it turned out to be the first step toward a life dedicated to helping others. Thompson went on to become a star athlete and football coach - a Cherokee legend whose story is remembered by many and is now finally told for a wider audience.Following gridiron fame at Northeastern State College, Thompson returned to Sequoyah Vocational School in 1947 as Boys' Coach and Advisor. More than a thousand boys attended the boarding school during the eleven years he coached there. Writing for readers old and young, Patti Dickinson tells the inspiring story of how this one man made a difference in the lives of a generation of Indian youth. Through football, Thompson taught his boys the skills and values they would need to succeed in life, and twice led his team to the state finals. Dickinson describes the success of that program, including one epic, rain-soaked championship game. She paints compelling portraits of Thompson's boys - the men whose firsthand stories and reminiscences form the basis of the narrative - and re-creates daily life at the school. To his boys, Thompson was Ah-sky-uh, """"the man,"""" a Cherokee term of respect. Half a century after his death, Sequoyah High School still reveres his memory. This book secures his place in history as it opens a new window on the boarding school experience.
Full Product Details
Author: Patti Dickinson ,
Chad Corntassel Smith
Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
Imprint: University of Oklahoma Press
Dimensions:
Width: 14.00cm
, Height: 2.30cm
, Length: 21.60cm
Weight: 0.418kg
ISBN: 9780806140704
ISBN 10: 0806140704
Pages: 256
Publication Date: 01 September 2009
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Professional & Vocational
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Temporarily unavailable
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Author Information
Patti Dickinson is the author of Hollywood the Hard Way: A Cowboy's Journey. A native Oklahoman of Cherokee ancestry, Patti graduated from California State University Fresno with a BA in History and a minor in Economics. She currently resides in Santa Maria, California. Chad Smith was Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation from 1999 to 2011 and helped to grow the nation's assets from $150 million to $1.2 billion, increased healthcare services, created 6,000 jobs, and dramatically advanced education, language, and cultural preservation. He is now running his own consulting business. Smith holds a J.D. from the University of Tulsa and an M.B.A. from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
