Terrell Lester
June 13, 2009 — Jim Thorpe is getting a makeover.
The Oklahoma-born Olympic champion was heralded as the greatest athlete of the first half of the 20th Century.
Now, a museum bearing his name has designs on becoming the best sports museum in the first half of the 21st Century.
The Jim Thorpe Association is putting a new face on Oklahoma sports history.
Before the end of this year, the organization expects to swing open the doors to the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Museum, 4040 N. Lincoln Blvd., in Oklahoma City.
To that end, association president and CEO Lynne Draper brought in longtime Oklahoma coach and sports administrator Eddie Griffin on Oct. 1 as executive vice president.
Some four years ago, Draper launched a $10 million renovation project that has turned the Thorpe museum and office facility into a must-see, state-of-the-art destination center.
“You haven't seen anything yet,” Griffin says.
From comments of recent visitors, one can surmise that the museum has what is referred to today as “a definite wow factor.”
The changes include a new third floor, topped off with a glass dome, a courtyard and a 9-foot bronze statue of Jim Thorpe.
And that's just the start.
There is the Bud Wilkinson Event Center, with seating for 680, with full kitchen and exclusive catering agreement with the Oklahoma City Petroleum Club.
By the end of the year, Griffin says the museum displays will be finalized and Oklahomans, not to mention sports fans from around the globe, will have access to, in his words, “world-class artifacts and memorabilia.”
“The inspiration of the museum is going to be awesome for the youth of Oklahoma,” Griffin says. “Young and old alive are going to enjoy coming to this museum.
“From Mickey Mantle and Bobby Murcer to Johnny Bench and Allie Reynolds in baseball to John Smith and Wayne Wells and Danny Hodge in wrestling to Clem McSpadden and Freckles Brown in rodeo, all the sports icons in Oklahoma” will be represented and on display, he said.
Several groups, including the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, have utilized the Bud Wilkinson Event Center for lunches and dinners and banquets, serving up a cornucopia of entrees from hot dogs to sea bass.
“Lynne Draper's vision with the Jim Thorpe Association and the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame has made a big impact on the state of Oklahoma,” Griffin says.
“This museum will be a destination for all Oklahomans.
“It is an ongoing process, but it's a good process,” he says.
Until the museum is officially open, Griffin said many of the exhibits and the facility itself can be viewed and toured on a “by appointment” basis. Gatherings in the Bud Wilkinson Event Center will have opportunities for walk-throughs.
Griffin arrived at the museum and Thorpe association after retiring from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah where he served as director of athletics from 2000 until 2008.
On his watch, NSU renovated its football stadium and upgraded a number of athletic facilities.
Griffin enjoyed an unrivaled four-year run as wrestling coach at University of Central Oklahoma. From 1979 through 1982, UCO won three NAIA national championships under Griffin.
He eventually moved on to coach wrestling at Clemson University and in 2002 he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Before he took the position at Northeastern State, Griffin was director of athletics for Oklahoma City Public Schools.
