Ralph O'Neal West
Ralph O'Neal West shone in almost everything he tried.
He was born in DC, one of five children to Robert and Martha West. His father died in 1907 in Panama where he was serving as an auditor for the Panama Commission. His mother then took the position of matron to the young children and adults at The Baptist Home for Missionaries Children, 1136 Centre St., Newton Centre.
Ralph went to Mason Grammar School and was baptized in the FBCN sanctuary in 1909.
He attended Newton High, competing on the track, baseball, and basketball teams.
Ralph was the editor-in-chief of the Newtonite yearbook. He graduated with honors in 1914.
Ralph O'Neal West, Editor-in-Chief, (seated right) and the staff of the Newtonite 1914.
Ralph’s deeply desired goal was to attend Harvard. but he suffered a slight sunstroke in the summer before his Freshman year and was advised to wait a year before entering college. When he finally arrived at Harvard, he joined the freshman soccer, track, and basketball teams, saving time as well for the freshman entertainment committee. His plans will take a turn with an unexpected job offer in 1916.
Late in his first year at Harvard, he was offered a job in NYC as a supervisor of athletics for the boys of the Choir School of St John the Divine. If he took the job he could have a chance at being self-supporting and not dependent on his brother and mother. They encouraged him to stay at Harvard.
He concluded it would be selfish to continue at Harvard. He made the sacrifice, went to NYC, and enrolled in Columbia, spending every afternoon supervising the athletics of the boys from the choir school.
Columbia Students in World War I.
On Dec. 15, 1917 West enrolled in the Marines. His brother Robert (NHS '11) had done the same in May 1917. On April 18, 1918 he sailed for France having missed out on the opportunity to be enrolled in Officer Training because of a 3-week illness in hospital.
He went through the fighting at Belleau Woods, and Thiaucourt. He was killed carrying important messages in the face of machine gun fire on September 15, 1918.
He lies buried in St. Mihiel American Cemetery, Thiaucourt, France. Although he would have been considered a Columbia grad if he had lived, Harvard conferred a Bachelor of Arts degree upon him posthumously in 1919. He also received The Purple Heart.
