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Private First Class Alex Roland Seowtewa

Alex Seowtewa is wearing traditional clothing from the Zuni Nation, including a red head scarf.
  • Unit: 738th Anti Aircraft Missile Battalion
  • Date of Birth: April 29, 1933
  • Entered the Military: August 24, 1953
  • Date of Death: March 13, 2014
  • Hometown: Zuni, New Mexico
  • Place of Death: Zuni, New Mexico
  • Award(s): National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal
  • Cemetery: Quincy Panteah Cemetery, Zuni, New Mexico
Contributed by Malinda, Kylee Lesansee, Kiilani Lonjose
Mentored by Ms. Sheila Uy
Twin Buttes Cyber Academy
2024/2025

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. 

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

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.

The Old Zuni Mission Church, built in 1629, is a historic landmark of Spanish colonization in Zuni. Travel Awaits.
A photograph of Zuni Pueblo, c. 1927. Library of Congress (92519847).
Map showing the location of the Zuni Pueblo, 2008. Wikimedia Commons.

Military Experience

Alex Seowtewa was drafted into the U.S. Army while enrolled at the College of St. Joseph in Albuquerque. Due to his high military exam scores, he was assigned to a missile battalion and worked with Project Nike at Fort Dix, New Jersey.

His DD-214 confirms that he entered active service on August 24, 1953, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was assigned to the Department of the Army and underwent training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, where he worked as a radio relay man. He later served at Fort Bliss, Texas, specializing in anti-aircraft warfare, and then at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, focusing on military communications.

His most significant assignment was with Battery D, 738th Anti Aircraft Missile Battalion, a missile-based air defense unit. In addition to his military duties, he used his artistic talents to paint battalion signs and decorate duffle bags.

Seowtewa entered the Army as a private and was promoted to private first class on September 23, 1954. He did not serve as a combatant in the Korean War, as he was stationed domestically after the war had ended. He never deployed abroad and applied for separation from the Army after his service.

Upon completing his military service, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He received his honorable discharge on June 23, 1955 and transferred to the U.S. Army Reserves under the Universal Military Training and Selective Service Act.

A photograph of Alex Seowtewa, taken one month before he was drafted into the U.S. Army, July 1954. Courtesy of the Seowtewa Family.
Alex Seowtewa, wearing his U.S. Army uniform, September 3, 1954. Courtesy of the Seowtewa Family.
Alex Seowtewa with a friend in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, February 1955. Courtesy of the Seowtewa Family.

Veteran Experience

On January 30, 1956, six months after leaving the military, Alex married Odelle Pantheah. Together they had 11 children, two of whom, Travis and Gerald, are deceased.

Seowtewa worked as a maintenance worker, bus driver, and basketball coach at St. Anthony School. A devout Catholic, he was active in the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) and deeply involved in the Zuni community.

He was a leader in cultural preservation, serving as President and Band Director of the Zuni Tribal Band, where he organized fundraisers and performances to promote Zuni traditions. He also worked as an art teacher and cultural adviser for the Zuni Public School District and was involved in mediation and conflict resolution.

Recognizing the struggles of addiction, he designed rehabilitation programs in collaboration with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) in the early 1970s, providing peer support for those battling alcohol addiction.

Alex Seowtewa was a highly respected artist. His two most significant contributions include designing the Seal for the Zuni Tribal Council and creating a mural at the Zuni Old Mission Church (Our Lady of Guadalupe), built in 1629, which depicted the blending of Zuni and Catholic traditions. His work earned him the title “Michelangelo of the Southwest.”

His artwork gained national and international recognition, attracting visits from notable figures such as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Mother Teresa. He was invited to lecture at Ivy League schools and traveled to Russia as a Cultural Ambassador.

He received multiple awards in his career, including the Faith in Dialogue Award from Marian College, the Indian Living Treasures Award from the Governor of Arizona (2006), the New Mexico Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts (2007), the Heritage Preservation Award from the New Mexico Historic Preservation Office, and an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from Daniel Webster College.

Dr. Seowtewa’s children and grandchildren have continued his legacy of service to the Zuni people. Their eldest son, Octavius, is a cultural leader in the Zuni Tribe and a master jeweler. Other children include Kenneth (a local artist, historian, and writer), Edwin (a conservation officer), Gloria (a former teaching assistant), Demetrius (a U.S. Navy Veteran and cultural advisor), Lynette (a licensed counselor), Claire (Zuni Home Health worker), Alrich (Zuni Home Health worker), and Annie (a teaching assistant in Albuquerque Public Schools). His grandchildren include a doctor of occupational therapy and three military Veterans. 

Alex and Odelle Seowtewa. Courtesy of the Seowtewa family.
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.
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.
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.

Commemoration

Dr. Alex Seowtewa was diagnosed with stage four esophageal cancer in May 2013 and passed away on March 13, 2014. He is buried at Quincy Panteah Cemetery in Zuni, New  Mexico.

He left behind a lasting legacy as an artist, cultural leader, and community advocate, making a profound impact on Zuni traditions and Native American heritage.

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

Bibliography

Primary Sources

Aguilar, Gloria. Personal interview with the author. November 9, 2024. 

Alex Seowtewa. DD-214. Zuni Veterans Project, Zuni, New Mexico.

Alex Roland Seowtewa. World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947. Digital Images. https://ancestry.com. 

Curtis, Edward S. [Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico]. Photograph. c.1927. Library of Congress (92519847).  https://www.loc.gov/item/92519847/. 

Map of the Zuni Reservation. Map. May 23, 2008. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ZuniIRmap.png.

New Mexico. Zuni Reservation. U.S., Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940. Digital images. https://ancestry.com.

Old Zuni Mission. Photograph. Travel Awaits. Accessed March 11, 2025. https://www.travelawaits.com/2822051/best-things-to-do-zuni-pueblo-new-mexico/. 

“Rose Bowl Next for Winning  Zuni Band?” The Gallup Independent [Gallup, New Mexico], September  14, 1973. Newspapers.com (35493991).

Seowtewa, Demetrius. Personal  interview with the author. December 8, 2024.

Seowtewa Family Photographs, 1953-2014. Courtesy of Odelle Seowtewa.

Seowtewa Family Family Records, 1970s. Courtesy of  Kenneth Seowtewa and Odelle Seowtewa.

Seowtewa, Kenneth. “Adding a Breath to Zuni Life.” Hanksville. Accessed November 7, 2024. http://www.hanksville.org/voyage/stories/ZuniLife.html. 

Seowtewa, Kenneth. Personal interview with the author. December 7, 2024.

Seowtewa, Odelle. Personal interview with the author. November 9, 2024.

“Zuni Tribal Seal Design is Presented to Council.” The Gallup Independent [Gallup, NM], March  6, 1976. Newspapers.com (35513468).

“Zuni’s St. Anthony Mission Featured.” The Gallup Independent [Gallup, NM], February  13, 1976. Newspapers.com (35511600).

Secondary Sources

The A:shiwi (Zuni) People: A Study in Environment, Adaptation and Cultural Practices. Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. Accessed March 11, 2025. https://americanindian.si.edu/sites/1/files/pdf/education/poster_zuni.pdf. 

Adair, John Joseph. A Study of Culture Resistance: The Veterans of World War II at Zuni Pueblo. Dissertation, University of New Mexico, 1948. 

“Alex Roland Seowtewa.” Veterans Legacy Memorial, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Accessed March 11, 2025. https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/ALEXROLANDSEOWTEWA/3DA30A.

“Dr. Alex Seowtewa.” Find a Grave. Updated March 25, 2014. Accessed October 1, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/126873020/alex-seowtewa. 

Fergusson, E. Dancing Gods: Indian Ceremonials of New Mexico and Arizona. University of New Mexico, 1931.

Lyon, Luke. “Michelangelo of the Southwest.” National Geographic, November 1987.

Spears, Michael C., Kurt E. Dongoske, Octavius Seowtewa, Maren P. Hopkins and T. J. Ferguson. “Zuni perspectives on historic preservation,” Human Organization (2024), 83:1, 31-42. https://doi.org/10.1080/00187259.2023.2286172. 

“Our History.” Los Alamos National Laboratory. Accessed November 20, 2024. https://about.lanl.gov/history-innovation/.

“Octavius Seowtewa.” Crow Canyon Archaeological Center. Accessed November 9, 2024.  https://crowcanyon.org/people/seowtewa-octavius/.

Pueblo of Zuni. Accessed November 20, 2024.  https://www.ashiwi.org/. 

“The Zuni and the Spanish in the 16th Century.” Native American Netroots. Updated November 25, 2019. Accessed November 20, 2024. http://nativeamericannetroots.net/diary/Indians-101-The-Zuni-and-the-Spanish-in-the-16th-Century.

“Zuni History.” Zuni Department of Tourism. Accessed November 20, 2024. http://zunitourism.com/about-zuni/zuni-history/.

This profile was funded by a grant from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The opinions, findings, and conclusions stated herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.