Bill Anoatubby
Encyclopedia
Bill Anoatubby is the present Governor of the Chickasaw Nation
, a position he has held since 1987. From 1979 to 1987, Anoatubby served two terms as Lieutenant Governor in the administration of Gov. Overton James[
, the tribe's
first capital. In 1964, he graduated from Tishomingo High School, where he played football
and was active in student government. Following graduation from high school, he attended Murray State College
in Tishomingo, before transferring to East Central University
in Ada, where he earned a bachelor's degree
in business and accounting. Furthermore, he undertook additional studies in business and finance at ECU and Southeastern Oklahoma State University
in Durant, Oklahoma
. During his college years, he served in the Oklahoma Army National Guard
, attaining the rank of staff sergeant and command of a light truck platoon, before his honorable discharge in 1971. From 1972 to 1974, he 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.
, as director of tribal health services, where he was responsible for management of tribal health programs in a 13-county region of south central Oklahoma
. 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, where he was responsible for program and personnel management, including supervision of tribal department directors. The following year, he became the first popularly-elected Lieutenant Governor of Chickasaw Nation, and was reelected in 1983.
As Governor, he is responsible for administration of more than 50 government programs, 13 tribal businesses and a $350 million annual budget. As Governor, he 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.
. That same year, he was appointed to the Oklahoma Indian Affairs Commission by Governor Henry Bellmon
, and was reappointed by Governor David Walters
in 1991. From 1990 to 1992, he served on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Advisory Committee for the United States Department of the Interior
. From 1991 to 1998, he served on the Board of Trustees of Oklahoma City University
. During 1992, he served on the Oklahoma Governor's Healthcare Commission, established to study rural healthcare in the state. That same year, he was appointed to an Environmental Protection Agency
advisory group, studying the application of agency rules in Indian Country. In 1995, he was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental Policy Foundation by President Bill Clinton
. From 1995 to 1998, he served on the Oklahoma State Board for Easter Seals and Crippled Children
. In 1998, he unsuccessfully sought the Democratic Party
nomination for the 3rd District
U.S. House seat, taking third place in a four-candidate field. Following his defeat in the primary, he endorsed the party's eventual nominee, then-state senator Darryl Roberts. He lives in Ada, Oklahoma
with his wife, Janice Anoatubby. They have two sons and five grandchildren.
Chickasaw Nation
The Chickasaw Nation is a federally recognized Native American nation, located in Oklahoma. They are one of the members of the Five Civilized Tribes. The Five Civilized Tribes were differentiated from other Indian reservations in that they had semi-autonomous constitutional governments and...
, a position he has held since 1987. From 1979 to 1987, Anoatubby served two terms as Lieutenant Governor in the administration of Gov. Overton James[
Early life
Anoatubby was raised in Tishomingo, OklahomaTishomingo, Oklahoma
Tishomingo is the largest city and the county seat of Johnston County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 3,162 at the 2000 census. It was the first capital of the Chickasaw Nation. Murray State College, a community college, with an annual enrollment of 1,600 students is located in...
, the tribe's
Chickasaw
The Chickasaw are Native American people originally from the region that would become the Southeastern United States...
first capital. In 1964, he graduated from Tishomingo High School, where he played football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
and was active in student government. Following graduation from high school, he attended Murray State College
Murray State College
Murray State College, is a public, co-educational community college located in southeastern Oklahoma with the main campus located in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. The college is named in honor of former Oklahoma Governor William H...
in Tishomingo, before transferring to East Central University
East Central University
East Central University is a four year public university in Ada, Oklahoma, located in the south central region of the state. The university also has courses available in McAlester, Shawnee, Ardmore, and Durant....
in Ada, where he earned a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in business and accounting. Furthermore, he undertook additional studies in business and finance at ECU and Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Southeastern Oklahoma State University, often referred to as Southeastern and abbreviated as SE, or SOSU, is a public university located in Durant, Oklahoma, with an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 4,229 as of 2009.-History:...
in Durant, Oklahoma
Durant, Oklahoma
Durant is a city in Bryan County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 15,877 at the 2010 census. Durant is the principal city of the Durant Micropolitan Statistical Area, which had a population of 42,416 in 2010...
. During his college years, he served in the Oklahoma Army National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
, attaining the rank of staff sergeant and command of a light truck platoon, before his honorable discharge in 1971. From 1972 to 1974, he 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 joined the Chickasaw Nation government, then based in Sulphur, OklahomaSulphur, Oklahoma
Sulphur is a city in Murray County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 4,794 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Murray County.-Geography:Sulphur is located at ....
, as director of tribal health services, where he was responsible for management of tribal health programs in a 13-county region of south central Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. 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, where he was responsible for program and personnel management, including supervision of tribal department directors. The following year, he became the first popularly-elected Lieutenant Governor of Chickasaw Nation, and was reelected in 1983.
Governor
In 1987, Anoatubby was elected as the 30th Governor of the Chickasaw Nation, the thirteenth-largest tribe in the United States. He was reelected in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011; on two occasions (including the most recent) he faced no opposition. He is currently serving his seventh term which expires in 2015.As Governor, he is responsible for administration of more than 50 government programs, 13 tribal businesses and a $350 million annual budget. As Governor, he 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.
Community involvement
In addition to his duties as Governor, Anoatubby has been a member of several civic and governmental organizations on the local, state, regional, and national levels. Since 1978, he has served as a member of the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes, including stints as president and vice president of the council. In 1988, he was appointed to both the President's Council and the board of directors of the Ada Chamber of CommerceChamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
. That same year, he was appointed to the Oklahoma Indian Affairs Commission by Governor Henry Bellmon
Henry Bellmon
Henry Louis "Harry" Bellmon was an American Republican politician from Oklahoma. He was a member of the Oklahoma Legislature, the 18th and 23rd Governor of Oklahoma , and a two-term United States Senator.-Service in World War II:Bellmon was born in Tonkawa, Oklahoma and graduated from Billings...
, and was reappointed by Governor David Walters
David Walters
David Lee Walters was the 24th Governor of Oklahoma from 1991 to 1995.-Biography:Walters was born near Canute, Oklahoma. He graduated as valedictorian from Canute High School in 1969. He later graduated from University of Oklahoma in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering...
in 1991. From 1990 to 1992, he served on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Advisory Committee for the United States Department of the Interior
United States Department of the Interior
The United States Department of the Interior is the United States federal executive department of the U.S. government responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land and natural resources, and the administration of programs relating to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native...
. From 1991 to 1998, he served on the Board of Trustees of Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University, often referred to as OCU, is a coeducational, urban, private university historically affiliated with the United Methodist Church...
. During 1992, he served on the Oklahoma Governor's Healthcare Commission, established to study rural healthcare in the state. That same year, he was appointed to an Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
advisory group, studying the application of agency rules in Indian Country. In 1995, he was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental Policy Foundation by President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
. From 1995 to 1998, he served on the Oklahoma State Board for Easter Seals and Crippled Children
Easter Seals (US)
Easter Seals is a nonprofit charitable organization that assists more than one million children and adults with autism and other disabilities and special needs annually through a network of more than 550 service sites in the United States, Canada, Australia and Puerto Rico...
. In 1998, he unsuccessfully sought the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nomination for the 3rd District
Oklahoma's 3rd congressional district
Oklahoma's Third Congressional District is the largest congressional district in Oklahoma and also one of the largest congressional districts in the United States. It borders New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, and the Texas panhandle...
U.S. House seat, taking third place in a four-candidate field. Following his defeat in the primary, he endorsed the party's eventual nominee, then-state senator Darryl Roberts. He lives in Ada, Oklahoma
Ada, Oklahoma
Ada is a city in and the county seat of Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 16,008 at the 2000 census. As of 2009, the city population was estimated at 17,019....
with his wife, Janice Anoatubby. They have two sons and five grandchildren.