NAD Pays Tribute to Ralph White, NAD Past President

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) was saddened to learn of the death of Past President Ralph H. White on February 15, 2006. White served as NAD president from 1978 to 1980.

White was first elected to the NAD Board of Directors in 1968 and he served continuously, except for a two year period, until 1982. During White's term as president, which culminated at the NAD Centennial Year Conference, a plan for improving the administrative and operating structure of the national office was completed and implemented; a legislative committee was formed to establish long range, interim, and immediate legislative goals and priorities; the NAD Branch Office in Indianapolis was formally opened; and publication of the NAD Broadcaster began.

"Ralph White left huge Texas-sized boots to fill with his dedication and service to the American deaf community," said NAD President Andrew J. Lange.

A graduate of the Georgia School for the Deaf, White received his Bachelor's degree. from Gallaudet University, his Master's degree from the University of Texas in Special Education, and another Master's degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from California State University at Northridge. In 1995, he was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree from Gallaudet University.
 
He taught at the Georgia and Texas Schools for the Deaf, served as a counselor at the Texas School for the Deaf, coordinator of vocational rehabilitation services to deaf and hard of hearing persons at the Texas Rehabilitation Commission, was an actor with the National Theatre of the Deaf, directed the Gulf Coast Regional (Southeast Texas) Program for the Deaf, and served as Superintendent of the Oklahoma School for the Deaf.
 
Upon his return to Texas, he served as interim executive director of the Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and later as executive director of the Texas Association of the Deaf. He was involved in a large number of educational, rehabilitation, consumer advocacy organizations including the Texas and Oklahoma Associations of the Deaf. He also went on to found Deaf Seniors of America, Inc. and served as its first president.

NAD President Emeritus Robert G. Sanderson said, "The national deaf and hard of hearing community has lost a bona fide activist in the passing of Ralph White. Of all my pleasant memories of him, the one that stands out most is his all out dedication to the Deaf Senior Citizens of America organization. He founded it and nursed it along until today, strong and healthy; it stands as a monument to his hard work and enthusiasm. He has earned the respect of all of us who are deaf."

White was always active in deaf and hard of hearing issues and had an unwavering support for the NAD. In an interview with NAD Past President Lawrence Newman, White said, "We must continually fight for what we believe in whether it [is] education, rehabilitation, social services, civil rights, employment or communication access. This is where the NAD comes in. Every deaf person in America has a role to play in vigilance, but more importantly, in support of NAD. It is all we have!" He had a significant impact on the lives of deaf and hard of hearing Americans and left us with a vision of a brighter future.