PDA

View Full Version : Former Sooner Legacy passes away



Jay C. Upchurch
4/9/2006, 06:59 PM
Ralph T. Churchill, who lettered in both basketball and track at the University of Oklahoma in the early 1950s, died this past Wednesday at his home in Roswell, Georgia. He was 75.

I first spoke with Mr. Churchill five years ago when he was campaigning to get his father Tom Churchill Sr. voted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame. Churchill Sr. was the last four-sport letterman at OU, earning that distinction in football, basketball, baseball and track and field. In fact, Churchill Sr. was an All-American in both football and basketball, a decathlete in the 1928 Olympics and a pro baseball player in the NY Yankees' organization at various times of his athletic career.

Thanks to his son's tireless efforts to bring his father's name back into the limelight after almost 80 years, Tom Churchill Sr. was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.

The younger Churchill said it was the proudest moment of his life. And I felt privileged to be even a small part of that campaign.

Although overshadowed by his father's great exploits at OU and beyond, Churchill Jr. was a fine athlete in his own right. He remained great friends with longtime OU coach Bruce Drake and his widow Myrtle Drake.

Another great Sooner has passed on.

OBIT FOR COLONEL RALPH THOMAS CHURCHILL
Colonel Ralph Thomas Churchill, U.S. Army, (Retired), age 75, of Roswell, Georgia died April 5, 2006. He was born December 22, 1930 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the son of the late Ralph Thomas Churchill, Sr. and Marie Meeks Churchill Neudorff. Colonel Churchill graduated from Central High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1948 and received his BBA from The University of Oklahoma in 1953. While attending, he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and ROTC. He lettered in Basketball and Track and Field. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1953 following college graduation. Colonel Churchill received his MBA from the University of Alabama in 1967. He also attended the United States Army War College in 1975. Colonel Churchill was a member of the 101st Airborne and served in the Vietnam War.He received the following awards during his service, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Services Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal and the Senior Parachutist Badge. Colonel Churchill retired in November, 1983. He is survived by his wife Glenda King Churchill, his daughters and son-in-law. Carrie Marie Churchill of Cary, NC; Kristen Churchill Akins and Wayne Akins of Statesboro, GA; his grandchildren, Kate Anna Akins, Amelia Akins and Thomas Churchill Lehman and his brother, Jerry Churchill of White Sulphur Springs, Montana. A memorial service with full military honors will be held Friday, April 7 at 1 p.m. at the Ft. McPherson Protestant Chapel with Chaplain Moore and Chaplain Wheatley officiating. A reception will follow the service at The Commons at Ft. McPherson. Memorial tributes to Colonel Churchill and his family may be posted by visiting www.mem.com. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718. Arrangements by H.M. Patterson & Son, Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Road, NE Sandy Springs, GA 30328 (404) 851-9900.