Linda Hughes O'Leary (born April 9, 1950) is a Cherokee politician who served on the

Cherokee Nation tribal council The Cherokee Nation tribal council ( chr, ᏗᏂᎧᎾᏩᏗᏙᎯ ᎠᏂᏯᎥᎢ, translit=dinikahnawadidohi aniyavvi) is the legislative branch of the Cherokee Nation. One councilor is elected to represent each of the 15 districts of the Cherokee ...

for district 5 from 2003 to 2007.

Life

Hughes O'Leary was born on April 9, 1950, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Clinton "Webb" Hughes and Frankie Lou Potter Hughes. She is a descendant of original Cherokee enrollees, with her grandparents being Ezekiel "Zeke" and Katie Kaiser Hughes, and John and Nina "Pug" Beck Hendren Potter. Hughes O'Leary graduated from Colcord High School and later attended Northeastern State University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in education with a minor in sociology. Hughes O'Leary began her career at the U.S. Department of Human Services, where she worked for 19 years. During her time there, she specialized in child protection services, home studies, adult services, and medical clinic eligibility within the welfare department. Following her career in

social services Social services are a range of public services intended to provide support and assistance towards particular groups, which commonly include the disadvantaged. They may be provided by individuals, private and independent organisations, or administe ...

, she established her own bail bond business in Oklahoma, where she has been operating for over 15 years as of 2003. In 2003, Hughes O'Leary and

Melvina Shotpouch Melvina Shotpouch is a Cherokee Nation politician who has served on the Cherokee Nation tribal council since 2021. She served three prior terms on the council from 1991 to 1995 and from 1999 to 2007. Biography Melvina Shotpouch was first elected ...

were elected to represent the multi-member district 5 of the

. She focused on issues such as education, housing, healthcare, and cultural preservation. As of 2003, Hughes O'Leary resides in

Jay, Oklahoma Jay is a city and county seat of Delaware County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,448 at the 2010 census, compared to 2,482 at the 2000 census, a decrease of 1.4 percent. Almost 40% of its residents are Native American, thus Ja ...

, with her husband, Larry O'Leary. They have three children.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hughes Oleary, Linda Living people Politicians from Tulsa, Oklahoma 1950 births 21st-century American women politicians 21st-century Native American women Members of the Council of the Cherokee Nation Women in Oklahoma politics Cherokee Nation women 21st-century Native American politicians Native American women in politics Northeastern State University alumni People from Delaware County, Oklahoma United States Department of Health and Human Services officials