American Indian community leader dies at age 78
Story-Date: 09:01 a.m. PST Thursday , November 12, 1998

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American Indian community leader dies at age 78



SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) -- Alma Elaine Rail, a Garden Grove community
activist who helped build a community center that provides services for
American Indians throughout Southern California, has died after a long
battle with cancer. She was 78.

Rail, a Seneca Indian, died Monday a her family's home in Foothill Ranch.

Rail was board president of the Southern California Indian Center, Inc. for
15 years. Under her direction, the center grew from a small office in
Garden Grove in Orange County into an organization with branches in Los
Angeles and Riverside counties that now provides a variety of services for
American Indians, from scholarships to senior aid.

"It was her vision that Indian people become self-sufficient and prosper,"
said Paula Starr, the center's assistant executive director. "She always
came up with new ideas to help the Indian community."

Rail was also director of American Indian education for the Huntington
Beach Union High School District, where she counseled youth and helped them
improve academically.

Rail is survived by a brother, a daughter, a granddaughter and a
great-granddaughter. Funeral services were scheduled for Thursday.



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