Ralph Emerson Poolaw (1899-1948) - Find a Grave Memorial

Ralph Emerson Poolaw

Birth

6 Oct 1899

Mountain View, Kiowa County, Oklahoma, USA

Death

28 Apr 1948 (aged 48)

Anadarko, Caddo County, Oklahoma, USA

Burial

Rainy Mountain Cemetery

Mountain View, Kiowa County, Oklahoma, USA Add to Map

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A Kiowa, who was born and grew up in Mountain View, Oklahoma (Kiowa County). One of at least six children of Keahtinekeah and Kiowah George Poulaw. His father had at least two wives so Ralph had both full and half siblings. His full siblings, those whose mother was Keahtinekeah, included: Dorothy (Oegotahkeah); Moses Edward; Cora, and Margaret. His half siblings, those whose mother was Tsomah, included: David T.; Phyllis Annie; Gladys Samuel; Robert William, his twin; Horace Monroe; Pierce Justin; and Trecil. Another half sibling was Mammedaty, whose mother was Ku-da-am-ke.

In 1919, his mother and father and their daughter Cora, born 1902 were in the Indian census. Ralph was head of his own household, as was his brother Edward.

In the 1920 Federal census, his mother, Keahtinekeah, was living in Mountain View with his sister Dorothy and her husband James Ware and their four children: Walden, age 9; Earl, age 7; Lela, age 5; and Lucille, age 3. Ralph and his sister Margaret were also living with Dorothy. His father, George, was listed as living with his second wife, Tsomah.

Obituary, The Carnegie Herald, May 5, 1948
Former Coach Dies...
Services were at 2 p.m. Friday in the Rainy Mountain Baptist church for Ralph Poolaw, 48, who died Wednesday, April 28, at his home in Anadarko. Rev. Frank Venable, pastor, had charge of the service and burial was in the Rainy Mountain cemetery. He served in the army during World War II.

Born at Mountain View of the well known Kiowa Indian family, Ralph Poolaw was Carnegie highschool coach in 1924-25-26-27 and turned out some of the school's best known teams. In the 1924 highschool annual it is said "...no man has ever come to the field of Carnegie high as athletic director who inspired more fight and higher ideals of clean sportsmanship in his men than Ralph Poolaw.:

Survivors are his wife and six children at the home, and three sons and a daughter by a former marriage. Also three sisters, Dorothy Ware, Mountain View; Margaret Titchywat, Walters, and Anna Saunkeah, Oklahoma City and five brothers, Moses Poolaw, Walters; Horace Poolaw, Anadarko; David Poolaw, Oklahoma City; Justin Poolaw, Mountain View, and Bruce Poolaw, Old Town, Maine.