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Chief Ralph W. Sturges – G’tinemong (He Who Helps Thee) Inducted Into Connecticut Hall of Fame
Mohegan Nation (June 20, 2008) – Chief Ralph W. Sturges, also known by his Native name G’tinemong (He Who Helps Thee), has been posthumously honored by an induction into the Connecticut Hall of Fame. A ceremony sponsored by The Connecticut General Assembly took place in Hartford on June 18, 2008. The Connecticut Hall of Fame salutes current or former residents of the state who have distinguished themselves in their profession and performed outstanding service to the state and to the nation. The hall is located on the second floor break-out area of the Legislative Office Building.
Paul Sturges, surrounded by his family, accepted the honor to his father. Members of the Tribal Council, Council of Elders, and various members of the Mohegan Tribe also attended the emotional ceremony. “Chief Sturges was a mentor to me and to many other Mohegans” remarked Bruce “Two Dogs” Bozsum, Chairman of the Mohegan Tribe. “This honor goes even further to ensure that his legacy in Connecticut and among the Tribe will never be forgotten.”
Senators Joseph Crisco (D-Woodbridge) and Sam Caligiuri (R-Waterbury), and Representatives Elizabeth “Betty” Boukus (D-Plainville) and Michael Caron (R-Danielson) serve on the Connecticut Hall of Fame committee, and were also present at the ceremony. Joining them were Don Williams (D-Brooklyn), President Pro Tempore of the Senate; and Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven), Majority Leader of the Senate.
Chief Sturges, a native of New London, was a leader in the movement to gain federal recognition for the Mohegan Tribe. He was also a leader in the process that resulted in the Tribe’s establishment of Mohegan Sun, which now stands as one of the most successful Native American owned and operated casino-resorts in the world. Inducted along with Chief Sturges were the late baseball legend and civil rights advocate Jackie Robinson; Harry J. Gray, the former CEO and Chairman of United Technologies and major benefactor for Hartford Hospital’s cancer center; and the late Marian Anderson, “Connecticut’s Voice of Freedom,” the first African-America singer to perform at the Metropolitan Opera. Previous members of the Connecticut Hall of Fame include Mark Twain, Katharine Hepburn and Igor Sikorsky.
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