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time as a territory in the late 1870's. Then, he became the Ambassador to Turkey. After his return to the United States, Lew worked at what he liked bestbeing an author. Ben-Hur went to Broadway, and then eventually became a movie. After his death, his wife helped to finish his autobiography, so that it could be published.

Oscar Robertson

A professional basketball player for fourteen years, Oscar was the only player in the NBA to average a triple-double for a whole season. Growing up in a segregated housing project in Indianapolis, he was plagued by racism; this continued on in high school as well as in college. He played professionally for the Cincinnati Royals and the Milwaukee Bucks, whom he helped to lead to a NBA championship. He also aided in the reform of free agency and draft rules for the NBA as the president of the NBA Players' Association.

James Whitcomb Riley

Amazingly, James Whitcomb Riley, never even finished school. Born in Greenfield, James' father wanted him to follow in his footsteps, and be a lawyer, so James tried, but failed. Several jobs came and went; his poems were born as a result of the frustration. He began to write for several newspapers, finally landing in Indianapolis. When he was 34, a collection of his poems was printed under a pseudonym, and sold out the first thousand copies. Known as the "Hoosier Poet" or the "Children's Poet," he was childless himself, something he regretted. Quite popular, he was in demand at the White House, and other places.

There are so many more famous Hoosiers that I could put in this story, but I wanted to try to give a good cross-section of who we had to offer. It's amazing really, when you think about it. The things that they've done, and that they may still be doing, even.

Learn more about this author, Margaret Merrill.
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