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Bill Anoatubby (born November 8, 1945) is the Governor of the
Chickasaw Nation The Chickasaw Nation (Chickasaw language, Chickasaw: Chikashsha I̠yaakni) is a federally recognized tribes, federally recognized Native Americans in the United States, Native American tribe, with its headquarters located in Ada, Oklahoma in th ...
, a position he has held since 1987. From 1979 to 1987, Anoatubby served two terms as Lieutenant Governor of the Chickasaw Nation in the administration of Governor Overton James, after being popularly elected to office.


Early life and education

Anoatubby was born in
Denison, Texas Denison is a city in Grayson County, Texas, Grayson County, Texas, United States. It is south of the Texas–Oklahoma border. The population was 22,682 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. Denison is part of the Texoma region and is one ...
. After his father died before his third birthday, his widowed mother moved with him to
Tishomingo, Oklahoma Tishomingo is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Johnston County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 3,034 at the 2010 census, a decline of 4.1 percent from the figure of 3,162 in 2000. It was the first capital of the Chick ...
, the first
Chickasaw The Chickasaw ( ) are an indigenous people of the Southeastern Woodlands. Their traditional territory was in the Southeastern United States of Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee as well in southwestern Kentucky. Their language is classified as ...
capital.Biography-Anoatubby.com
In 1964, Anoatubby graduated from Tishomingo High School, where he played
football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...
and was active in
student government A students' union, also known by many other names, is a student organization present in many colleges, universities, and high schools. In higher education, the students' union is often accorded its own building on the campus, dedicated to social, ...
. He attended
Murray State College Murray State College is a public community college in southeastern Oklahoma with the main campus located in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. It is named in honor of former Oklahoma Governor William H. "Alfalfa Bill" Murray. Murray State College also mai ...
in Tishomingo, before transferring to
East Central University East Central University (ECU or East Central) is a public university in Ada, Oklahoma. It is part of Oklahoma's Regional University System. Beyond its flagship campus in Ada, the university has courses available in McAlester, Shawnee, and Duran ...
in
Ada Ada may refer to: Places Africa * Ada Foah, a town in Ghana * Ada (Ghana parliament constituency) * Ada, Osun, a town in Nigeria Asia * Ada, Urmia, a village in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran * Ada, Karaman, a village in Karaman Province, ...
, where he earned a
bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...
in accounting. Anoatubby undertook additional studies in business and finance at ECU and
Southeastern Oklahoma State University Southeastern Oklahoma State University (Southeastern, SE, or SOSU) is a public university in Durant, Oklahoma. It had an undergraduate enrollment of 4,824 in 2019. History On March 6, 1909, the Second Oklahoma State Legislature approved an a ...
in
Durant, Oklahoma Durant () is a city in Bryan County, Oklahoma, United States that serves as the headquarters of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. The population was 18,589 in the 2020 census. Durant is the principal city of the Durant Micropolitan Statistical A ...
. During his college years, he also served in the
Oklahoma Army National Guard The Oklahoma Army National Guard is the Army National Guard component of the Oklahoma National Guard. The Commander in Chief of the Oklahoma National Guard is the Governor of Oklahoma, who appoints the State Adjutant General (TAG), a Major Genera ...
. He attained the rank of staff sergeant and command of a light truck platoon, before his honorable discharge in 1971.


Early career

From 1972 to 1974, Anoatubby was employed as an office manager for American Plating Company. From 1974 to 1975, he was employed by the Little Giant Corporation, working in the areas of accounting, budgeting, financial analysis, and electronic data processing.


Early tribal career

In July 1975, Anoatubby was hired by the Chickasaw Nation government, then based in Sulphur, Oklahoma, to serve as Director of Tribal Health Services. He managed tribal health programs in a 13-county region of
South Central Oklahoma South Central Oklahoma is an amorphous region in the state of Oklahoma, perhaps encompassing 10 counties. It is centered on the Arbuckle Mountains, an ancient, eroded range traversing some across the region, and surrounded by rivers and lakes, ...
. The following year, he accepted appointment as director of the tribal accounting department, where he was responsible for development and improvement of tribal accounting systems. In 1978, he was appointed as special assistant to the governor and controller. He provided program and personnel management, including supervision of tribal department directors. The following year, Anoatubby was popularly elected as the first Lieutenant Governor of the Chickasaw Nation, serving with Governor Overton James. He was re-elected for a second term in 1983.


Governor

In 1987, Anoatubby was elected as the 30th Governor of the Chickasaw Nation, the twelfth-largest tribe in the United States. He is now serving his 9th consecutive term in office, having been reelected in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019; on four occasions he faced no opposition. As governor, he administers all the Nation's programs and businesses and, indirectly its more than 13,500 employees. There are more than 200 tribal programs and services, and more than 100 tribal businesses. Anoatubby has devised a multi-pronged approach to improving conditions for the tribe in the areas of tribal finance, education, business and economic development, environmental protection, and healthcare. Anoatubby has been describe as a modest, almost self-effacing politician who seems happy to share the credit for the Nation's successes. He has achieved the following: * He focused on raising funds to provide more opportunities for higher education. The previous annual budget included $200,000 from the BIA, supporting 157 scholarships. By 2017, the Nation provided more than $19.4 million in annual funds for scholarships, grants, and other educational contributions. * In 1994, the Chickasaw Nation took responsibility from the
Indian Health Service The Indian Health Service (IHS) is an operating division (OPDIV) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). IHS is responsible for providing direct medical and public health services to members of federally-recognized Nativ ...
to establish, grow and maintain its own health care system. Using its own funds, the nation opened a $150 million medical center, supplemented by four health clinics. The Chickasaw Department of Health, which oversees the facilities, in 2017 attracted more than 552,000 patient visits and filled more than 1.7 million prescriptions. "Chickasaw Nation governor working to improve tribe’s health." ''American Heart Association News.'' July 8, 2016
Accessed December 4, 2017.
* The Chickasaw Nation was the first Native American tribe to become a partner in the Healthy Meals for Kids program sponsored by the federal government.


National politics

Anoatubby decided to run for national office in the 1998 election, he sought the
Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...
nomination for the 3rd District U.S. House seat. At the time the district took in territory in the rural southeast of the state, including the area historically reserved for the
Choctaw Nation The Choctaw Nation ( Choctaw: ''Chahta Okla'') is a Native American territory covering about , occupying portions of southeastern Oklahoma in the United States. The Choctaw Nation is the third-largest federally recognized tribe in the United ...
, and some of the lands belonging to the Chickasaw and
Muscogee Creek The Muscogee, also known as the Mvskoke, Muscogee Creek, and the Muscogee Creek Confederacy ( in the Muscogee language), are a group of related indigenous (Native American) peoples of the Southeastern WoodlandsLittle Dixie." Anoatubby placed third in the four-candidate field in the Democratic primary. Following his defeat, he endorsed state senator Darryl Roberts, who eventually won the Democratic nomination. But Roberts was defeated by the Republican incumbent,
Wes Watkins Wesley Wade Watkins (born December 15, 1938) is an American politician from the state of Oklahoma. Watkins is a retired member of the United States House of Representatives where he had represented for 14 years as a Democrat and then for six ye ...
, who won re-election at a time of shifting political alliances by people in the state. (In 2003, the 3rd congressional district was totally redefined as taking in territory in the northwest part of the state rather than the southeast.) In 2014 Anoatubby was mentioned as a possible candidate for the U.S. Senate special election that year to replace
Tom Coburn Thomas Allen Coburn (March 14, 1948 – March 28, 2020) was an American politician and physician who served as a United States senator for Oklahoma from 2005, until his resignation in 2015. A Republican, he previously served as a United St ...
, but he decided not to run. Despite being a Democrat, Anoatubby endorsed conservative Republican and fellow Chickasaw T. W. Shannon in the 2022 United States Senate special election in Oklahoma.


Community involvement

In addition to serving as governor, Anoatubby has been a member of numerous civic and governmental organizations at the local, state, regional and national levels. As of June 2018, he has served as member and past president of the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes, the American Mothers Advisory Council, the American Indian Cultural Center Foundation, the Arkansas Riverbed Authority, the Dean A. McGee Board of Trustees, Murray State College Foundation, past chairman of the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center Board of Advisors, chairman of the Native American Cultural and Educational Foundation, the Oklahoma Business Roundtable Executive Committee, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation Board of Directors, Oklahoma State Fair, Inc. Board of Directors, Oklahoma Hall of Fame Board of Directors, Oklahoman's for the Arts Board of Directors, OU Price School of Business Board of Advisors, Task Force on the Future of Higher Education, and the Goddard Center Primary Board.


Honors

Anoatubby was inducted into the
Oklahoma Hall of Fame The Oklahoma Hall of Fame was founded in 1927 by Anna B. Korn to officially celebrate Statehood Day, recognize Oklahomans dedicated to their communities, and provide educational programming for all ages. The first Oklahoma Hall of Fame Induction Cer ...
in 2004.Oklahoma Heritage Society. 'Oklahoma Hall of Fame:Bill Anoatubby." In 2017, he was awarded the Harland C. Stonecipher Award for Entrepreneurial Vision, the James R. Tollbert III Crystal Orchid Award, the World Experiences Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award in Global Citizenship, and the Lee B. Brawner Lifetime Achievement Award. Awards and honors include: *2019 NAFOA Lifetime Achievement Award *2019 Oklahoma Center of Community and Justice Humanitarian Award *2019 Force 50 Foundation George Nigh Lifetime Achievement Award *2018 National Cowboy Museum's Annie Oakley Society's Frank Butler Award *2017 Harland C. Stonecipher Award for Entrepreneurial Vision *2017 James R. Tolbert III Crystal Orchid Award *2017 World Experiences Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award in Global Citizenship *2017 Lee B. Brawner Lifetime Achievement Award *2016 Creative Oklahoma Creativity Ambassador *2016 Louis B. Russell, Jr. Memorial Award for Service to Minority and Underserved Populations *2016 Helen Chupco Leadership Award *2015 Harold Hamm Diabetes Center Board Member of the Year *2015 Cherokee National Historical Society Stalwart Award *2015 Oklahoma Association of Community Colleges Hall of Fame Inductee *2015 Dialogue Institute of Oklahoma Leadership Award *2015 Ada Area Chamber of Commerce Ted Savage Lifetime Achievement Award *2014 Knights of Columbus John F. Kennedy Community Service Award *2014 Oklahoma Academy Key Contributor Award *2013 Oklahoma Israel Exchange Light, Leadership and Legacy Award *2013 ASTEC Fund Door Opener Award *2013 East Central University Distinguished Philanthropist Award *2013 Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame Inductee *2012 Citizen Energy Advocate of the Year of Award *2011 Chisholm Trail Heritage Center Trail Boss Award *2011 Oklahoma Health Center Foundation Treasures for Tomorrow, Outstanding Innovative Leader *2010 International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Leadership Award for Public Service *2010 Oklahoma City University's Meinders School of Business Chairman's Award *2009 Festival of Hope Honoree, Heartline Organization *2009 Leadership Oklahoma's Distinguished Graduate *2009 Board of the American Indian Exposition Indian of the Year *2008 Native American Finance Officers Association Tribal Leader of the Year Award *2008 Oklahoma Conference on Aging Lifetime Achievement Award *2008 National Governors Association Private Citizen Award *2007 Red Earth Ambassador *2007 Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy Outstanding Service to Oklahoma's Children Award *2007 Minority Advocate of the Year, U.S. Small Business Administration *2007 Oklahoma Heritage Association "Centennial Leadership award for Preservation of State & Local History" *2006 Oklahoma Mental Health Consumer Council "Humanitarian of the Year" Award *2005 Awarded the "Most Honored One" and "Friend of the Court" by the Oklahoma Supreme Court *2004 Oklahoma Hall of Fame Inductee *2004 Jacobson Foundation Honoree Award *2000 Distinguished Service Award from the Murray State College Foundation *1999 Tri-County Indian Nations Community Development Corporation Leadership Award *1998 Honoree, Community Literacy Center *1997 Ada Chamber of Commerce Leadership Award *1997 City of Ada A+ Award *1997 Oklahoma Governor's Arts Award *1997 Distinguished Alumnus, East Central University *1997 Distinguished Alumnus, National Community College Association *1995 Minority Advocate of the Year, U.S. Small Business Administration *Who's Who in America *Who's Who in the South and Southwest


Personal life

Anoatubby lives in
Ada, Oklahoma Ada is a city in and the county seat of Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 16,481 at the 2020 United States Census. The city was named for Ada Reed, the daughter of an early settler, and was incorporated in 1901. Ada is ...
with his wife, Janice. They have two sons, Brian and Chris. Chris and his wife Becky have three children, Brendan, Eryn and Sydney. Brian and his wife Melinda have two children, Chloe and Preslea. He has a brother named Russel Anoatubby. He has three nieces Loretta (Cricket) Anoatubby, Lou Ann Anoatubby-Taylor, and Johna Anoatubby.


Notes


References


External links


Voices of Oklahoma interview with Bill Anoatubby.
First person interview conducted on October 18, 2010, with Bill Anoatubby. {{DEFAULTSORT:Anoatubby, Bill 1945 births Living people 20th-century Native Americans 21st-century Native Americans East Central University alumni Governors of the Chickasaw Nation Oklahoma Democrats Oklahoma National Guard personnel Native American Christians People from Ada, Oklahoma People from Denison, Texas People from Tishomingo, Oklahoma Southeastern Oklahoma State University alumni