Description
Coach Tommy Thompson and the Boys of Sequoyah reads like a historical novel about the life and times of a Cherokee youth who went to a boarding school for Native Americans and became a leading sports coach for Native American students. Tommy Thompson (1903-1958) attended the Cherokee Orphan Training School (later known as Sequoyah Indian School) in Tahlequah, Oklahoma following the death of his mother. Here he began his educational experience at a government-run boarding school or residential school. This boarding school had a different approach due to its Cherokee Superintendent Jack Brown. The school was run in a family-style environment. Thompson thrived here and later returned as a sports coach. Here he excelled with the school's football team. He served at the school for eleven years and brought the team to two state finals. The book contains photographs and an index. The style of writing engages the reader and appeals to anyone interested in sports or the boarding school history.