Levi Parker Webster facts for kids
Portrait of Levi Webster
|
|
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Levi Parker Webster |
| Born | July 6, 1883 |
| Died | May 2, 1962 |
| Alma mater | Carlisle Indian Industrial School |
Levi Parker Webster (also known as Chief Tall Feather) was an amazing American athlete. Born on July 6, 1883, he became a professional runner and an ultramarathoner. He is famous for setting two incredible running records almost twenty years apart! He passed away on May 2, 1962.
Contents
Early Life and Roots
Levi Webster belonged to the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin. He grew up on the Oneida reservation, learning about his heritage. Later, he attended the Carlisle Indian Industrial School and graduated in 1905.
Amazing Sports Achievements
Levi Webster was a fantastic foot racer. He also played professional football for several teams. These included the Frankford Athletic Club (from 1906 to 1908), the Pittsburgh Lyceum (from 1909 to 1910), and the Massillon Tigers (from 1911 to 1914).
Competing Against the Best
He often raced against a famous English runner named Alfred Shrubb. In 1908, they had a special race in Boston. Shrubb challenged five opponents to run in 2-mile relays against him during a 10-mile race.
Breaking Running Records
In June 1927, Webster achieved something incredible. He broke the record for the Milwaukee-to-Chicago nonstop marathon. This was a super long run, 94 miles in total! He finished it in just 19 hours and 47 minutes. People were amazed because he was 42 years old at the time.
The newspapers and promoters called this run a "comeback." They remembered his achievements from nearly twenty years before. One of his earlier records was for the mile run, which he completed in an amazing four minutes and 13 seconds.
A reporter from Time magazine was very impressed. He described the scene of Levi running past cars, trains, and boats. It was like something from an "educational wonder book," showing how amazing human endurance can be.
Running for Milestones
On his 50th birthday, Levi Webster celebrated in a unique way. He ran 50 miles from Green Bay to Oshkosh, Wisconsin! This shows how dedicated he was to running. For many years, his family continued his legacy. They held an honor run of 50 miles each summer, with family members sharing the distance.
Family Life
Levi Webster married Servilla Dell Skenandore in 1930. Together, they had a large family with 14 children.
