ANDY PAYNE MONUMENT
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Visit the monument to Andy Payne, the tall Cherokee farm boy and Olympic runner.
Andy's bronze sculpture was created by artist John Free (1922-2014) and unveiled in 1992. It recalls the young man's achievement in the 1928 Trans-American Footrace, known as the Bunion Derby.
Andy Payne (1907-1977), a Cherokee farm boy, was only 20 years old when he laced up his shoes alongside nearly 300 other runners from around the world to compete in the event. Some were record holders and others had even competed in the Olympics. When the gun went off at the starting line in Los Angeles, the runners took off down the new Highway 66 toward Chicago and then New York City, a 3,400+ mile event.
No one thought Andy had a chance to win. In fact, he was stricken with a fever in Arizona and many thought he should retire. But he persevered and was even in the lead as he crossed the Oklahoma border. Throughout the state, he was greeted by large crowds and Will Rogers also greeted the young man as he passed through Claremore.
When Andy passed through his hometown, fewer than 100 men remained in the race. Only half of them remained when the runners arrived at Madison Square Garden, Andy Payne in the lead. Hailed as a national hero, he used his $25,000 prize money to pay off the mortgage on the family farm. Andy retired as a runner, then served as a clerk of the Oklahoma Supreme Court for 38 years.