Lafayette Jefferson High School is the site of a new monument to an Olympic hero.
Ray Ewry won ten gold medals from 1900 to 1908, mastering the standing long jump, standing high jump and standing triple jump events. After graduating from Lafayette, he attended Purdue where he led the track team to a national championship.
Monument Committee Co-chair Joe Micon said Ewry did all of this after overcoming polio as a child. He hopes the monument outside of Scheuman Stadium at Jefferson High makes an impression on those who pass by it.
"Because we need to know Ray Ewry is one of us and came from our community," he said. "But above and beyond that - my goodness! How could young people not be inspired by this story?"
Micon says the recognition is long overdue and the dedication one week before the Olympics begin is perfect timing.
"We can't think of any better way for those of us in Lafayette to connect with what's going on in London, than to honor our greatest Olympic hero, and arguably our country's greatest Olympic hero, Ray Ewry."
A dedication at Jefferson High School is set for Thursday, July 19, at 1:30p.m. and is open to the public. Ewry’s grandson, Tom Carson, is scheduled to attend. He is writing a book about the athlete’s life.
You can hear the WBAA interview with Carson HERE.