White, Ralph H.

Born at Hazlehurst, GA and attended the Georgia School for the Deaf 1931-1941. B.A. Gallaudet College (1946), M.A. University of Texas at Austin (1952), and another M.A. from California State University, Northridge (1966).; honorary doctorate from Gallaudet University 1995. Taught at Georgia School for the Deaf 3 years, then teacher and counselor at Texas School for the Deaf for 19 years. 1975-1979, appointed director of the Gulf Coast Regional Day School for the Deaf program in Texas. Back to Texas School for 2 years, then became superintendent of the Oklahoma School for the Deaf in 1981 until retirement about a decade later. Acted for one season with the National Theatre of the Deaf. Served on the boards of and also led several statewide organizations of the deaf and state commissions for the deaf and served a stint 1978-1980 as president of the National Association of the Deaf. Won several awards for distinguished service in those organizations. Post-retirement, ran a consulting business 2 years, then chaired the first national conference of deaf senior citizens, leading to the 1992 founding of Deaf Seniors of America; served as DSA's first president 1994-1997.