Ted St. Germaine facts for kids
1922 photo of Jim Thorpe and Ted St. Germaine as teammates on the Oorang Indians football team
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| No. 24 | |||
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| Position: | Tackle, center, guard | ||
| Personal information | |||
| Born: | February 2, 1885 Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin |
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| Died: | October 4, 1947 (aged 62) Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||
| Weight: | 250 lb (113 kg) | ||
| Career information | |||
| College: | Yale | ||
| Career history | |||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||
Ted St. Germaine (born February 2, 1885 – died October 4, 1947) was a very interesting person. He was an American football player, a coach, and even a lawyer! He played football professionally in the National Football League (NFL) in 1922.
Ted was part of a special team called the Oorang Indians. This team was unique because all its players were Native Americans. The team was coached by the famous athlete Jim Thorpe. Ted St. Germaine was a member of the Chippewa tribe, which meant he could play for the Oorang Indians.
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Ted's Early Life and Education
Ted St. Germaine was born in Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin. He first went to the University of Wisconsin. But he found a better fit at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania.
At Carlisle, he played football and earned his first college degree. He then continued his studies at Howard University. Later, he went to Yale Law School, where he earned a law degree in 1913.
Playing Professional Football
Even with a law degree from Yale, Ted knew it might be hard to find a job as a lawyer in a non-Native American firm. He thought he might have more luck coaching at a Native American college.
In 1922, when he was 37 years old, Jim Thorpe asked him to play for the Oorang Indians. This was a big deal! Ted St. Germaine is thought to be the first lawyer to ever play for an NFL team.
Life After Football
After his football career, Ted St. Germaine continued to make a difference. He became a judge for his tribe. In 1932, he made history again. He was the first Native American to be allowed to practice law in Wisconsin. This meant he could represent people in court.
When President Franklin D. Roosevelt changed policies about Native Americans, Ted became an important voice. He spoke for his community, the Lac du Flambeau tribe, at special meetings in Hayward, Wisconsin.
At these meetings, Ted argued for Native American self-government. He also pushed for tribes to control their own natural resources, just as old treaties had promised. Some of his ideas were included in a new law called the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934.
Ted St. Germaine passed away in 1947 from a heart attack. He is remembered for his achievements in sports, law, and for helping his community.
Ted's Coaching Career
Before playing in the NFL, Ted St. Germaine also coached college football. He was the head coach at Villanova College, which is now Villanova University. He coached for one season in 1913. During that season, his team won 4 games, lost 2, and tied 1.
