MOHAWK LACROSSE GREAT ROSS POWLESS DIED
Born September 29, 1926, on the Six Nations Grand River Reserve, Ontario, Ross went to residential school in Hamilton. Though working as a carpentry foreman, other than family, lacrosse was his focus. From 1951-54, his Peterborough Timbermen won 4 straight Mann Cups—Canada’s senior men’s championships. He twice won the Tom Longboat Award–Canada’s top Native athlete. As a coach, Ross’ Brantford Warriors won a Canadian Senior B championship (1968) and his Rochester Chiefs won a Can-Am Lacrosse League title (1969). He also coached 6 of his sons to a 1974 National title with the Ontario First Nations team. Ross is in both the Canadian and Ontario Lacrosse Halls of Fame (HOF). With son Gaylord, the Powless’ are the only father & son team in the Canadian HOF. Deemed the father of modern lacrosse, he helped revive interest in box lacrosse. Ross later worked as a carpenter and home inspector until 1991 and served for 12 years as a band administrator with the Six Nations band council.
Source: Sam Laskeris, “Ross Powless: Lacrosse was a passion; family his greatest love,” Windspeaker.com, 4/4/2017. Retrieved 3/26/2020, https://windspeaker.com/news/footprints/ross-powless-lacrosse-was-a-passion-family-his-greatest-love Photo: Cabomb, 1/22/2008. Public Domain.
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