As told to me by his grand-daughter, Shannon Silvius-Mizeski:
Ralph Owen Silvius was born on March 16, 1929 in Omaha, Nebraska. He married my grandmother Arbra Davis Silvius in May of 1946. They traveled all over North America and to Hawaii with their square dancing skills.

By the hand of his wife, Arbra, Ralph Silvius joined a beginners' square dance class in 1957. After the third night, he was hooked. Following graduation from class, Ralph and Arbra entered into the spirit of club dancing, and at one of the club's amateur nights, he called his first tip, one that he had been practicing for the occasion. After a short time he decided to become a caller and, needless to say, he was hooked. Ralph called for six clubs and taught three classes a year.

A recording artist on the Red Boot label, his most successful recording has been the best seller, "Matamoras." He and Arbra also choreographed a popular round dance, "Pickie, Pickie, Pickie," on the Star Dust Label. Ralph has called in 34 states and three Canadian provinces and has served on staff a several camps and festivals throughout the West and Midwest. He had been a traveling caller since 1962 and, to quote Ralph, "I don't have a minute to call my own and I love it." Ralph and Arbra had been married for 63 years and made their home in Modesto, California. They raised three sons and were quoted to have said "I have one great sorrow," said Ralph. "That is for the people who have not yet learned to square dance. Anyone who does not square dance when given the opportunity to learn is twice as crazy as I am."

He passed away on March 19, 2010 in Delaware, Oklahoma.