Gregory E. Pyle

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gregory Pyle
Chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
In office 1997 – present
Preceded by	Hollis Roberts
Born	April 25, 1949 Fort Bragg, California

Gregory E. Pyle (born on April 25, 1949) is the current chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Chief Pyle was born in Fort Bragg, California. He is the son of Alvin Pyle, of Paris, Texas and Juanita Wilmouth, of Hugo, Oklahoma. Chief Pyle has two brothers and o­ne sister. The family journeyed back and forth from California to Oklahoma, finally moving to Oklahoma, permanently in 1966.

Gregory E. Pyle graduated from Hugo High School in May of 1967. From there he went o­n to Murray State College, then o­n to Southeastern Oklahoma State University, graduating from there in July of 1972, with a B. S. in Business, and a Minor in Psychology.

Chief Pyle married Pat Baker, in September of 1971. They have two children, daughter Andrea, and son Eric. Chief Pyle and the First Lady now make their home in Durant, Oklahoma, home of the Choctaw Nation Headquarters, and also where Mrs. Pat Baker Pyle is a computer teacher at Durant High School.

[edit] Chief of The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

Chief Pyle took the Oath of Office June 9, 1997 as Chief of the Choctaw Nation. Pyle served as Assistant Chief for fourteen years, spending a substantial part of his time in Washington, D.C. working o­n legislation that affects Native Americans. He has promised to see that all Congressional actions continue to be closely monitored, and make sure that the tribe has a direct input into all legislative acts that affect Choctaws.

Chief Pyle has worked closely with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service and will continue to do so, maintaining current programs, and searching for additional service programs.

Chief Pyle has served the Choctaw Nation since 1975, when he was elected by popular vote, along with Chief Belvin, to the Agriculture Board to oversee the Choctaw Nation Ranch at Tushka Homma.

[edit] Other Accomplishments

• 1982-Hired as Personnel Officer
• 1982-Appointed to Arkansas Riverbed Board
• 1983–became Tribal Program Monitor to oversee and assure contract compliance of all federally funded programs being run by the tribe.
• Testified before Congress for the Arkansas Riverbed case, which was won by the Choctaw, Cherokee and Chickasaw Nations.
• Appointed Assistant Chief of the Choctaw Nation
• Appointed by Secretary of Interior Manuel Lujan to serve a Task Force, which essentially was set in place to reorganize the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Two years later reappointed by Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt and headed up several subcommittees o­n the Task Force.
• 1994 – Appointed to the Inter Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes during the past fourteen years.
• Testified before Congress to support the appointment of Michael Trujillo as Director of the National Indian Health Service Director.
• 1996 – Served as the President of the Oklahoma Area Health Board and was also a member of the National Health Board.
• 1997 – Served o­n Board of Directors of Landmark Bank and Durant Chamber of Commerce.
• 2007 - Inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame on November 8, 2007 during the 80th Annual Oklahoma Hall of Fame event in downtown Oklahoma City.

[edit] Source

• "A Brief History of the Choctaw Nation", retrieved 08/26/07