Rueben C. Sanders (1876-1957), nicknamed "Reub" was a sports star for the ages, he was able to punt a football seventy yards, excelled at athletics and had dedication to the school that gave him his career.
Biography
"Reub" grew up in Salem but was born in Corvallis on July 10, 1876. He was born into the Siletz tribe of southern Oregon, his father was from Ireland and his mother Siletz. Reuben went to Chemaway Indian School and competed in almost every sport the school had to offer including, boxing, bike racing, track sports and basketball. His time at Chemaway Indian school left him with many records for the schools history, including, a state record for shot put and a gold medal in basketball. For these records he was accepted into the Native American Athletic Hall of Fame at Haskell Indian Nations University, formerly known as Haskell Indian Junior College, in 1972. "Reub" was known throughout Oregon for his exceptional football playing skills, most notably how he was able to punt a football seventy yards, and playing up to five games a week.
Before the early 1900s in Oregon organized athletics weren't popular, thus schools all over the state competed against each other, some players not even being members of a school at all, that is until 1899 when "Reub" went to play for Willamette University track team but was a student at Chemawa Indian School. Willamette University complained about the discrepancy and action was sustained by cutting ties between the two schools.
1900-1941
After high school "Reub" went on to play football for Salem Capital Athletic Club for one year (1900), after that he went on to play for the same University that he filed a discrepancy against him, Willamette University, between 1901-1918, until he broke his wrist and arm, ending his playing career.
In the height of his career, in 1910 he married Anna Bender (Ojibwe), but she died in 1911 in Chemawa. He went on to get remarried in 1913 to Augusta Chamberlin (Gros Ventre), and they had three sons. Shortly after his marriage to Augusta he became a coach at Chemawa, teaching boxing, football, wrestling, and girls basketball. He retired in 1941 and became the assistant coach at Chemawa for the football team.
Retirement
His retirement was easy, and he enjoyed helping the Siletz make salmon back for the residents of Depoe Bay, when he wasn't helping the community then he was hiking, playing gold, or hunting.
December 20, 1957, "Reub" passed away, Chemawa naming the field "The Rueben Sanders Field" at the school in his honor.
References
- Rueben C. Sanders (1876-1957) by David Lewis (Takelma, Chinook, Mollala, Santiam Kalapuya)
- This is a credible source as it is published through the Oregon Historical Society and Oregon Encyclopedia.
Citations
- ^ "Reuben C. Sanders (1876-1957)". www.oregonencyclopedia.org. Retrieved 2022-03-14.