You may not know who Geronimo was, but you’ve likely heard his name. In fact, you’ve probably used the “Geronimo” saying when taking a leap—out of a plane, into a pool, off a wall. But why Geronimo?

LAWTON, Okla. — The story of Geronimo epitomizes the Old West: a larger-than-life Indian warrior whose remarkable exploits in battle bordered on the supernatural. His remains also have taken on ...