- Ralph W. Sturges
Ralph W. Sturges (
December 25 ,1918 –October 01 ,2007 ) was an AmericanMohegan tribal chief who helped gain federal recognition for the Mohegan people ofConnecticut in 1994. He also helped to found and build Connecticut'sMohegan Sun Casino. cite news |first=|last=|title= Mohegan Chief Dies |url=http://www.courant.com/news/custom/topnews/hcu-sturges-obit-1001,0,247545.story?coll=hc_tab01_layout|work=Hartford Courant |publisher= |date=2007-10-01 |accessdate=2007-10-08] He held the title of "chief for life." cite news |first=Mark|last=Peters|title= Longtime Mohegan Leader Dies At 88
url=http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-sturges1002.artoct02,0,1561495.story|work=Hartford Courant |publisher= |date=2007-10-02 |accessdate=2007-10-08]The Mohegan tribe, which is based in
Montville, CT , is currently made up of approximately 1,700 people. cite news |first=Sarah|last=Kershaw|title= Ralph Sturges, Chief of Mohegan Tribe, Dies at 88
url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/04/nyregion/04sturges.html?em&ex=1191643200&en=375bc073dee757e5&ei=5087%0A |work=New York Times |publisher= |date=2007-10-04 |accessdate=2007-10-08] The Mohegan's reservation is located in eastern Connecticut along the Thames River near the town ofUncasville . The Mohegans are one of the wealthiest tribes in theUnited States , thanks to income fromcasinos and other facilities, whose construction was spearheaded by Sturges.Personal life
Sturges was born December 25, 1918, in
New London, Connecticut . He traced his Mohegan ancestry to his maternal great-grandmother, Emma Baker, a Moheganmedicine woman and early 1900s Native American activist who campaigned for the state to settle Mohegan land grievences.He served in the
U.S. military in anintelligence division inNew Guinea and thePhilippines . He was awarded a Bronze Star for his service in the war.Sturges worked in a number of professions before becoming active in Mohegan tribal affairs late in life. He worked as a
disaster relief coordinator for theSalvation Army and a payroll deliveryman for an armored car company, among other jobs.He was a skilled and active marble sculptor. His works were placed on display at the
Connecticut State Capitol and other public buildings. Connecticut GovernorM. Jodi Rell issued a statement following Sturges' death in 2007 saying, "He will be forever remembered for his contributions not only as a wise leader ... but as a skilled sculptor."External links
* [http://www.courant.com/news/custom/topnews/hcu-sturges-obit-1001,0,247545.story?coll=hc_tab01_layout The Hartford Courant: Mohegan Chief Dies]
* [http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-sturges1002.artoct02,0,1561495.story The Hartford Courant: Longtime Mohegan Leader Dies At 88]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/04/nyregion/04sturges.html?em&ex=1191643200&en=375bc073dee757e5&ei=5087%0A New York Times: Ralph Sturges, Chief of Mohegan Tribe, Dies at 88]References
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