Ross Powless

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Alex (Ross) Powless (1926–2003) was a Mohawk lacrosse player from the Six Nations of the Grand River Indian reserve near Brantford, Ontario. His exceptional play has been credited with reviving interest in box lacrosse in the 1950s.

He played with the Peterborough Timbermen when they won four consecutive Mann Cups from 1951 to 1954; he was chosen as most valuable player in the series in 1953. As a coach he won three national championships at different levels, including one with a team including six of his sons. He twice won the Tom Longboat Award as Canada's outstanding First Nations athlete, and was inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1969.

He led the establishment of hockey and lacrosse leagues on the Six Nations reserve, and was a band councillor for eight years. In the 1970s, he coached the Brantford Warriors lacrosse team, which featured four of his sons, Gaylord, Gary, Harry and Greg. In 1997, he received the volunteer service award of the Ontario Municipal Recreation Association.

He was the father of Gaylord, Gary, Harry, and Greg Powless, and great-uncle of Delby and Neal Powless.