Ralph Willard Latas was born August 21, 1926 on a farm in Rozel, Pawnee County, Kansas. He was the seventh and youngest child of Lucille Patricia Heft and John Clemmons Latas.

When Ralph was 2, his family joined the Rozel Baptist Church. A year later, they moved to Jetmore, in neighboring Hodgeman County, Kansas. In 1931, when Ralph was 5, the family settled on a farm near Quenemo, Osage County, in the Flint Hills of eastern Kansas.

Three years later, when Ralph was only eight years old, his father died, leaving his mother with seven children to raise.

In 1941, the family moved to Wichita, Kansas, where Ralph became a track star as a sprinter at North High School. He lettered in football and track, and took second in the state in the 100-yard dash. In 1944, Ralph won a blue ribbon in the 880-yard relay and a red ribbon in the 100-yard dash at the University of Kansas Fortieth Annual Interscholastic Track and Field Meet. That same month, he won a white ribbon in the Medley Relay at the Anthony Invitation Track and Field Meet in Anthony, Kansas. In his senior year at North, Ralph studied Social Problems, Chemistry, American History, Aeronautics, and Physical Education, and earned a solid "C" average. He graduated May 26, 1944.

Less than a month later, on June 23, 1944, Ralph joined the Navy. He entered active duty on July 2, 1944 in Wichita. He trained at US NTS Farragut, Idaho, where he won special awards for first place in the 100-yard dash, the 50-yard dash, and the 400-yard relay.

Ralph then served at USNRB USNB Port Hueneme California, before becoming a ship fitter, third class on the USS Bergen. He was a holder of a plank owner's certificate as a member of the original crew of the Bergen.

The Bergen was launched 5 December 1944 under a Maritime Commission contract by Kaiser Co., Inc., Vancouver Wash.; sponsored by Mrs. Donald Campbell, transferred to the Navy 23 December 1944; and commissioned the same day, Captain R. B. Vanzant in command. The Bergen joined the pacific fleet and shuttled troops and cargo from the west coast to Pearl Harbor and Saipan (2 March-4 July 1945). Departing Pearl Harbor 11 July, she landed her passengers at Okinawa 12 August and sailed 5 September for Inchon, Korea, with occupation troops. Leaving Okinawa again 26 September she carried troops to China and then returned to San Francisco, arriving 20 November. She made another trip to the Philippines (7 December 1945-24 January 1946) to bring home returning servicemen.

Ralph was decorated with the American Area Ribbon, the Asiatic Pacific Area Ribbon, and the World War II Victory Ribbon.

All four of Ralph's brothers and one of his sisters served in the Navy as well. His mother and sister went to work in the airplane factories.

The Bergen was decommissioned 24 April 1946, and was returned to the Maritime Commission 2 days later.

Ralph received an honorable discharge from the Navy on May 27, 1946, at USN Perspcen Unit 3, Great Lakes, Illinois. Within a month, he was working at the Cessna Aircraft Company in Wichita. In September of that year, he was living in Emporia, Kansas.

In 1947, Ralph enrolled at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. In the spring of that year, he served as an official at the Forty-Third Interscholastic Track & Field Meet.

Ralph received a scholarship to attend college to become a teacher. In 1948, he played football for the University of Wichita, where, at 22, he was a 5'7", 170-lb. halfback. On October 30, 1948, a football program for a game against the University of Tulsa described him as follows: "Wichita product who may develop into fine back...sophomore...very fast...only 5-7, but has a lot of drive." In 1948 and 1949, Ralph was a member of the Alpha Gamma Gamma Fraternity. He graduated from the University of Wichita on June 5, 1950, with a Bachelor of Arts in Education.

Ralph married Jimye Jo Anne Hurley December 21, 1952 in Wichita, Sedgwick County, KS. She was the daughter of Xea Mae Smith and Joe Edwin Hurley of Altus, Jackson County, Oklahoma.

Ralph and Jimye Latas had the following children: Patricia Jan, Timothy Wayne, Jeffrey Lynn, and Amy Kathleen.

Ralph taught sixth grade at Garfield Elementary School, where he also coached football. After several years, he realized that he could not support his growing family on his salary. He became a stillman at an oil refinery, supplementing that income with substitute teaching on his days off. The factory went on strike often, creating further hardships for the family.

Ralph loved fishing, hunting, and camping.

He died of a heart attack on February 10, 1981 after shoveling snow from the driveway of his home in Wichita . He was 56 years old. He was buried February 13, 1981, at Resthaven Cemetery in Wichita.