Ralph K. Place died June 18, 1993 of AIDS-related complications in San Francisco.
Born July 30, 1950 in Salt Lake City, he was the son of Ralph J. and Barta Stringham Place; both are deceased.He is survived by two sisters and a family of caring and loyal friends.
He received his education at San Francisco State University, University of Utah, and completed his undergraduate work at San Francisco Art Institute with a B.F.A. in photography.
In 1971 he was instrumental in organizing the first gay organization in Utah, and was the first open homosexual to speak publicly here.
He had a ten-year career as a quartermaster/seaman with Exxon Shipping Co. He was active in union politics, and served in an elected capacity for six years during the dark days of Reagan's presidency.
In his last years he went into recovery for drug addition and devoted his time to working with other recovering addicts who were dealing with HIV disease.
A memorial service will be held in San Francisco at the Henry Ohlhoff House.
Burial of his ashes will be at Fairview Cemetery, Maeser Utah next to his grandparents.
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