Ross Powless

Alexander "Ross" Powless (September 29, 1926 – May 26, 2003) was a Mohawk lacrosse player from the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation near Brantford, Ontario. Broadly, Ross was positioned as an ambassador for lacrosse and for native people. Powless is also considered one of the best lacrosse athletes in Canadian history and the father of modern lacrosse. His exceptional play has been credited with reviving interest in box lacrosse in the 1950s.

Playing career He played with the Peterborough Timbermen when they won four consecutive Mann Cups from 1951 to 1954, during which time he lived for a while with his wife Wilma and son Gaylord in a tent at Fairy Lake, near Peterborough. He won the Mike Kelly Memorial Trophy for most valuable player in the series in 1953. Following his playing career, Powless coached various All-Indian teams to three national titles, including leading the Rochester Chiefs to the Can-Am Lacrosse League title in 1969. He also coached a team featuring six of his sons to the championship at the North American Indian Lacrosse Tournament, which he later said was one of his biggest thrills. He twice won the Tom Longboat Award as Canada's outstanding First Nations athlete, and was inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1969. Ross is also a member of the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame. In 1997, he received the volunteer service award of the Ontario Municipal Recreation Association.

Personal and family In later years, Ross was a building inspector on the Six Nations Reserve outside of Brantford, and he enjoyed spending time hunting with his dogs Lady and George. Ross was also an excellent pool player, gardener, and joke teller.

Ross was the husband of Margaret Wilma Powless (Bomberry). Ross and Wilma were married for 55 years and raised 14 children. They also had 27 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was the father of Gaylord (deceased), Gail, Gary (deceased), Audrey, Greg (deceased), Harry, Arlene, Richard, Victor (deceased) Darryl, Karen, Tony, Jeff (deceased) and Jacqui.

He was the son of Chancey Powless and grandson of Peter Powless, and the nephew of Sam, Dick, Cecil, and Titus Van Every.