Ralph Emerson Seitsinger

Our beloved Father of 5 children, 36th Mayor of El Paso, Lower Valley Business Man,

Civic Leader & friend was carried in the arms of Angels to join our Heavenly Father on March 30, 2016

at the age of 100 years old. He passed peacefully with family and staff from Hospice El Paso Center for

Compassionate Care attending him.

Ralph was born on a farm in Kinross Iowa, January 13, 1916 to Helen & Raymond Seitsinger.

He was raised in Niles Ohio where he graduated from McKinley High School in 1934.

He attended the University of Mount Union in Alliance Ohio which is a small private Liberal Arts College

affiliated with the United Methodist Church. He then moved to New Mexico and graduated from

The University of New Mexico in Albuquerque with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1938.

It was at the University of New Mexico that he met and married an Archeology major named Marjorie Ann Hill.

They moved to El Rito after graduation and both taught at the Spanish- American Normal High School at El Rito

where Ralph was the Assistant Principal and the Head of the Science department while Marjorie was an English teacher.

A classmate of Ralph’s, at the University of New Mexico, had become a Field Scout Executive for the

Boy Scouts of America and recruited him into Scouting. He became a District Manager in Las Vegas New Mexico

and he transferred to El Paso Texas on January 1, 1942 to develop new troops and train scout executives.

Ralph fell in love with El Paso immediately because the people of El Paso are so friendly and the weather is wonderful year round.

He brought with him his Wife Marjorie and their 2 children Ralph Edgar and Jean Ann. This was during WWII

and housing was limited. A Methodist Minister, Reverend Raymond Gray took them into his parsonage.

During this period they welcomed their 3rd child Patricia Louise to the family.

Wanting to be of service to his Country during WWII, Ralph joined the Army on July 9, 1945 and was assigned to

the Adjutant Generals Office at Ft. Bliss as a Classification Assignment Officer with main concentration on assisting

solders & their families with their separation papers and counseling them about their military benefits.

After WWII, Ralph made El Paso his permanent home and went to work for Lane Furniture in Five Points.

Eventually, Ralph bought the E.B. Ambler Furniture Company in Ysleta and grew his business to include three

Seitsinger Furniture Stores from1947 to 1961. He also expanded his family with the births of Richard & Carol.

Ralph hosted a weekly TV show on KTSM entitled “Seitsinger’s Guestbook” for 2 years.

Ralph met Raymond Tellez in 1956 when Raymond decided to run for Mayor of El Paso and wanted Ralph’s endorsement.

The two men became instant friends. Raymond talked Ralph into running on his ticket and he was Raymond’s

Mayor Pro-tem from 1957-1960. Raymond Tellez became Ambassador to Costa Rica in 1960 so Ralph decided

to run for Mayor and put together ”The People’s Ticket” and was elected Mayor from 1961-1963. His administration

was one of the most productive for the City of El Paso.

Some of the many accomplishments of his administration were:

Roads El Paso “The International City”

1. Trans-Mountain 1. 1st Mayor to recognize Juarez as a “Sister City” and trade partner

2. North South Freeway 2. Developed The North American Trade Agreement which opened the

3. Border Highway Northern Border of the US to trade with Canada and the US Southern border to trade Mexico

3. The Twin plant program between El Paso and Juarez

4. Fostered the Maquiladora program which brings $99 billion into the United States

5. Made the El Paso Airport an International Airport

6. Worked with President Kennedy and Mexico’s President Lopez-Mateos to facilitate the Chamizal settlement

Other Accomplishments

Improvement to the police and fire departments, Improvement in Flood Control, Improvements in Park Lands, Improvements in Libraries

Downtown lighting system, Helped the Tigua Indian Tribe become federally recognized as a Native American tribe and sovereign nation

After leaving office, Ralph sold his furniture stores and started a water conditioning business. He met Gretchen Anne Hedges Srigley who was the Administrator of the Newark Methodist Maternity Hospital in South El Paso and married her in 1985. They were married for 25 years.

He was a dedicated member of the Vista Ysleta United Methodist Church and belonged to several civic organizations such as the El Paso Downtown Lions Club, the Gideon’s International El Paso Camp, the El Paso Navy League, Yucca Council, Boy Scouts of America, the Lower Valley Optimist Club, and The American Legion Post #36. Sons of the American Revolution, Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club, and Lulac.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents Raymond and Helen Seitsinger, brothers Frank and Joseph, sisters Lucille Marcrum and Dorothy Copeland, wives Marjorie Ann Hill Seitsinger and Gretchen Anne Hedges Srigley Seitsinger and grandson John Ripper. He is survived by his sons Ralph Edgar Seitsinger (Peggy), Richard Seitsinger (Arlene), daughters Jean Cobb (Merrill), Patricia Seitsinger and Carol Ripley, grandsons Phillip Seitsinger and Daryl Ripper, granddaughters Melissa Pownall, Cheryl Jensen, Jeanna Gagin, great grandsons David Pownall, Matthew Pownall, John Pownall, Donald Jensen, Scott Jensen, great granddaughters, Annafaith Jensen, Marjorie Gagin, Evelyn Gagin, Vivian Gagin and great, great grandson Damien Jensen

Special thanks to all of Ralph’s wonderful doctors: Dr. Teresa Reed, Dr. Panagiotis Valilis, Dr. Lauren Eisenberg, Dr. KC Wong, Dr. John M Tune, Dr. Carlo M Hatem, Dr. Richard Pieri, and Dr. Adekunle Adedeji.

Finally a special thanks to Hospice El Paso for their outstanding end of life care at the Center for Compassionate Care especially CEO Jim Paul, Dr. Barbara Reeves, Andrea Gamboa Diaz RN, Hilario Monreal RN, Marybeth Gonzalez RN, Edith Lopez RN, Joe Chaparzo RN, Valente Soto CNA, JesusPerez CNA, Abel Vara CNA, Socorro Ramirez CNA, Rosa Job CNA, and Maria Tarango CNA.