LaRue in Marion County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Home of the Oorang Indians
NFL's Most Colorful Franchise
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., circa April 19, 2009
1. Home of the Oorang Indians Marker
The Oorang Indian football team was founded by LaRue native Walter Lingo (1890-1966), owner of the Oorang Airedale Dog Kennels. The team, comprised of Native American Indians, played in the National Football League (NFL) in 1922-23.
The star player and coach was Jim Thorpe (1887-1953), a Sac and Fox Indian. Thorpe gained international fame as a two-time gold medal winner (decathlon and pentathlon) in the 1912 Olympics and was acclaimed as the "World's Greatest Athlete."
The team gave LaRue the distinction of being the smallest community ever to have an NFL franchise.
Erected 1997 by Marion County Historical Society and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 7-51.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans • Sports. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1912.
Location. 40° 34.372′ N, 83° 23.062′ W. Marker is in LaRue, Ohio, in Marion County. Marker is on High
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. LaRue Veterans Memorial Column (approx. 1.9 miles away); LaRue Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.9 miles away); Wheeler Tavern (approx. 6.9 miles away); Old Sandusky Trail and Shawnee Ford (approx. 6.9 miles away); Six Points, Goshen Township (approx. 7.1 miles away); Cheney Cemetery Veterans Memorial (approx. 7˝ miles away); Mount Victory Veterans Memorial (approx. 7.6 miles away); Mount Victory United Methodist Church (approx. 7.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in LaRue.
Also see . . . History of the Oorang Indians. (Submitted on January 30, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., circa April 19, 2009
2. Home of the Oorang Indians Marker
Looking north along High Street.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., circa April 19, 2009
3. Photo of the Oorang Indians on Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 21, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 30, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 2,467 times since then and 239 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 30, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
