Ralph M Graham

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.