Ralph O. Stickler graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri and became a doctor, with his own hospital in Kirksville, Missouri.
His nephew Gerald DeVore recalls: "I lived for 4 years at the Hospital on E. Illinois St. The basement of the hospital contained 5 rooms large enough to put in bunk beds. My brother and I lived at the hospital while in college at Northeast Missouri State College. Dr. always kept 6-8 atheletes in the Hospital. In those days the colleges did not have scholarships for the football and basketball players. Dr. kept them in the hospital. Supposedly each did some work. Dr. was a 4-letter man at college. Football, basketball, baseball and tennis."
Dr. Stickler also owned a pool hall in Kirksville, and had a stable of horses. He put a number of nieces and nephews through college, without telling his wife.
His marriage to a trained nurse stood him in good stead, as he suffered from Parkinson's Disease for many years before his death.
His nephew Gerald DeVore recalls: "I lived for 4 years at the Hospital on E. Illinois St. The basement of the hospital contained 5 rooms large enough to put in bunk beds. My brother and I lived at the hospital while in college at Northeast Missouri State College. Dr. always kept 6-8 atheletes in the Hospital. In those days the colleges did not have scholarships for the football and basketball players. Dr. kept them in the hospital. Supposedly each did some work. Dr. was a 4-letter man at college. Football, basketball, baseball and tennis."
Dr. Stickler also owned a pool hall in Kirksville, and had a stable of horses. He put a number of nieces and nephews through college, without telling his wife.
His marriage to a trained nurse stood him in good stead, as he suffered from Parkinson's Disease for many years before his death.
Ralph O. Stickler graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri and became a doctor, with his own hospital in Kirksville, Missouri.
His nephew Gerald DeVore recalls: "I lived for 4 years at the Hospital on E. Illinois St. The basement of the hospital contained 5 rooms large enough to put in bunk beds. My brother and I lived at the hospital while in college at Northeast Missouri State College. Dr. always kept 6-8 atheletes in the Hospital. In those days the colleges did not have scholarships for the football and basketball players. Dr. kept them in the hospital. Supposedly each did some work. Dr. was a 4-letter man at college. Football, basketball, baseball and tennis."
Dr. Stickler also owned a pool hall in Kirksville, and had a stable of horses. He put a number of nieces and nephews through college, without telling his wife.
His marriage to a trained nurse stood him in good stead, as he suffered from Parkinson's Disease for many years before his death.
His nephew Gerald DeVore recalls: "I lived for 4 years at the Hospital on E. Illinois St. The basement of the hospital contained 5 rooms large enough to put in bunk beds. My brother and I lived at the hospital while in college at Northeast Missouri State College. Dr. always kept 6-8 atheletes in the Hospital. In those days the colleges did not have scholarships for the football and basketball players. Dr. kept them in the hospital. Supposedly each did some work. Dr. was a 4-letter man at college. Football, basketball, baseball and tennis."
Dr. Stickler also owned a pool hall in Kirksville, and had a stable of horses. He put a number of nieces and nephews through college, without telling his wife.
His marriage to a trained nurse stood him in good stead, as he suffered from Parkinson's Disease for many years before his death.
