Please click here to view a student eulogy for Seowtewa at Quincy Panteah Cemetery in 2025: https://youtu.be/i9nyL1cROGw.

Biography - Part 1
Early Life
Alex Seowtewa was born on April 29, 1933, in Zuni, New Mexico, to Annie Seowtewa and Charlie Chuyate. He was their only son. He had two half-brothers, Stanley and Francis.

He graduated high school from Saint Anthony School in Zuni, New Mexico, on May 8, 1952. After receiving a scholarship, he attended St. Joseph College (which later became the University of Albuquerque) for a year before he was drafted in the U.S. Army on August 24, 1953.

Homefront
Historically, Zuni Pueblo was first encountered by Spaniards during Francisco Vásquez de Coronado’s expedition in search of the mythical Seven Cities of Gold. Coronado found adobe villages that merely reflected the sunlight, rather than actual gold.

The Zuni Pueblo, located in a valley about 150 miles west of Albuquerque, spans McKinley and Cibola counties in New Mexico, and Apache County, Arizona. The area features diverse habitats, with elevations ranging from 6,000 to nearly 8,000 feet, and includes the semi-arid Zuni River region.

Although Zuni Pueblo did not directly contribute to war material production, nearby facilities in New Mexico played key roles. The Los Alamos National Laboratory, a major site for nuclear research and development, contributed to U.S. military capabilities during the Korean War. Kirtland Air Force Base, in Albuquerque, engaged in military hardware research, testing, and supply operations.

During World War II, many Zuni men were enlisted or drafted into the military, disrupting the local community. Between 1941 and 1946, 213 Zuni men left for service, leaving older men and women to sustain the economy. This period saw a rise in silver jewelry production as an economic response. However, societal changes emerged, including increased alcohol consumption and shifting family structures, leading to the legalization of divorce within the tribe.

Zuni culture remained deeply traditional, with a strong artistic heritage. 80% of the workforce is engaged in creating silverwork, stone carving, pottery, and other crafts. The Shalako Ceremony, held near the winter solstice, is a sacred annual celebration that includes prayers, dances, and blessings for health and fertility. The federally recognized Zuni Tribe consists of approximately 11,000 members, most of whom live in the main village.

A photograph of Alex Seowtewa, July 1954. Courtesy of the Seowtewa Family.

Alex Seowtewa, crouching down in front of a green in a field of grass.

Alex Seowtewa’s grave at buried at Quincy Panteah Cemetery in Zuni, New  Mexico, February 14, 2025.

Alex Seowtewa's grave with flowers and gifts.

Upon the establishment of the Zuni Tribal Government in 1975, Alex Seowtewa created the seal, now known as the Great Seal of the Zuni Tribe, symbolizing Zuni as a sovereign nation. Courtesy of the Pueblo of Zuni.

The seal is a round shape with images of mountains and symbols that represent the nation.

Alex Seowtewa signed a copy of the November 1987 National Geographic for his children. The article referred to him as a modern Michelangelo because of the mural he created in the Zuni Old Mission Church (Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe). Courtesy of the Seowtewa family.

A magazine article with a note written by the Veteran.

Alex Seowtewa with a friend in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, February 1955. Courtesy of the Seowtewa Family.

Two men in Army uniforms stand in front of a white house.

Alex and Odelle Seowtewa. Courtesy of the Seowtewa family.

A photograph of Alex and Odelle Seowtewa wearing traditional jewelry from the Zuni Nation.

Alex Seowtewa’s diploma that bears conferment of a Doctor in Humane Letters by Daniel Webster College in New Hampshire, 1999. Courtesy of the Seowtewa family.

A diploma conferring an honorary doctorate to Alex Seowtewa from Daniel Webster College.

Alex Seowtewa, wearing traditional clothing. Courtesy of the Seoweta Family.

Alex Seowtewa is wearing traditional clothing from the Zuni Nation, including a red head scarf.

Alex Seowtewa’s high school diploma from Saint Anthony School, May 8, 1952. Courtesy of the Seowtewa Family.

Alex Seowtewa's 1952 diploma from Saint Anthony School.

Alex Seowtewa, the first in the row on the far left, as a member of the St. Anthony Basketball Team. Courtesy of the Seowtewa Family.

Five young Native American boys wearing sweatshirts with the letter A on them.

Alex Seowtewa painted this when he was in seventh grade at St. Anthony School as a tribute to his father's tribal costume as a Buffalo Dancer, 1945. Courtesy of the Seowtewa Family.

A painting Alex Seowtewa made of his father, dancing in a buffalo robe.

Alex Seowtewa, wearing his U.S. Army uniform, September 3, 1954. Courtesy of the Seowtewa Family.

Alex Seowtewa's formal portrait in his Army uniform.

ALEX ROLAND SEOWTEWA

Service

KOREA

US ARMY,

PFC

Resting Place

QUENCY PANTEAH MEMORIAL CEMETERY

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