Wilson Dewey (1915-1969)

Wilson Dewey was born in 1915 on the San Carlos Apache Reservation in Arizona.  The original reservation was inundated with the construction of Coolidge Dam, forcing the Apache to move to higher ground.  The original reservation is referred to as the original San Carlos Reservation and the site to which the Apache moved is called the new San Carlos Reservation. 

Dewey was a student at Santa Fe Indian School for three years, enrolling in 1935 during the tenure of Dorothy Dunn.  He finished his final year of education at Albuquerque Indian School.

Joe Herrera of Cochiti Pueblo remembers Dewey as a big boy "and what I remember about Wilson Dewey is that he was the champion in pushups at the school.  Nobody could beat him.  He was too far ahead.  Very strong in his arms.  In fact, he was State Champion in pushups.  That's what I remember."

Dewey served in the U. S. Army during World War II, after which he lived in Santa Fe for some time.  He was an avid sportsman-playing football and basketball and participating in rodeo.  Along with other Santa Fe Indian students, he participated in the decoration of the Maisel Building in Albuquerque.

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