Ralph M. Graham
HESSTON - Ralph M. Graham, 95, died Friday (Oct. 14, 2005)
at Newton Medical Center. He had been a resident of Schowalter Villa Retirement
Home since 1996. He was born Aug. 16, 1910, to Ora and Kate (Peterman) Graham
in El Dorado. He married Marion Meredith Manion. She preceded him in death. He
attended El Dorado High School, where he played in the Ark Valley League and
was selected All-Ark Valley in football, basketball and tennis. He won the
state regional tennis tournament his senior year and finished second at state.
He attended Kansas State University, where he participated
in football, basketball and tennis. He earned his nickname "Rammin'
Ralph" in football and was captain of the football and tennis teams his
senior year. He won a starter's role on the 1934 East-West team and was named
to the college all-star squad, which was made up of 33 of the best college
football players in the nation. He finished his football career at KSU with a
school record of 196 points, a mark that stood for 65 years. He graduated in
1934.
He completed his master's degree in education at the
University of Indiana in 1938. He was backfield coach in football, freshman
basketball coach and head coach of the varsity tennis team. He was top assistant
coach for the Indiana basketball team that won the Big 10 and NCAA championship
in 1940.
He was named athletic director and head football coach at
Wichita State University in 1942. He spent two years in the Philippines with
the U.S. Navy during World War II and then returned to WSU. He became head
football coach at Kansas State in 1948 and served three years with the
Wildcats. He was the first coach in the Big Seven Conference to offer a college
scholarship to a black athlete. In 1972, he was elected to the Kansas All
Sports Hall of Fame and the Kansas State Sports Hall of Fame in 1991.
He left the coaching profession in 1950 and worked as a
salesman for six years. He joined the Kansas Turnpike Authority in 1991.
Survivors include: a son, Ralph M. Graham Jr. and wife
Janell of Danville, Ill.; six grandchildren, Shann of Danville, Chris and wife
Ann of St. Joseph, Ill., Mark and wife Sue of Cary, Ill., Michael of Westville,
Ill., Anthony and wife Elizabeth of Butler, Pa., and Bill of Milwaukee; and
nine great-grandchildren.
Memorial service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Schowalter
Villa Chapel with in Hesston. There will be a private inurnment.
Memorials have been established with the Schowalter Villa
Physical Therapy Department in care of Miller Funeral Home, 107 S. Lancaster
Ave., Hesston, KS 67062.
