Gregory E. Pyle
| Gregory Pyle | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chief Gregory Pyle (right) with U.S. Rep. Dan Boren in 2010. | |
| Chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma | |
| In office 1997–2014 | |
| Preceded by | Hollis E. Roberts |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 25, 1949 Fort Bragg, California |
Gregory E. Pyle (born April 25, 1949) was a long-term political leader of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. He was elected as Principal Chief in 1997 and re-elected since by wide margins. He resigned effective April 28, 2014. [1] Prior to serving as Principal Chief, he had served as Assistant Chief for 13 years. He began to work for the Choctaw Nation in 1975 as personnel officer.
Early life
Gregory Eli Pyle was born in Fort Bragg, California. He is the son of Alvin Smith Pyle Sr., (born 1928 in Antlers, Pushmataha, Oklahoma) and Juanita (Ishcomer) Pyle, (born 1928 in McCurtain County, Oklahoma). He has one sister and two brothers. The family lived in both California and Oklahoma during his childhood, finally settling in Hugo, Oklahoma, permanently in about 1960.
Pyle is the grandson of Colberson Ishcomer (born 1901) in Oklahoma and Edna Sherfield (born 1912) in McCurtain Co, Oklahoma). Colberson is full-blood Choctaw. Edna is thought to have been part-Cherokee. He is a direct descendant of Conrad "Coonrod" Pile of Fentress County, Tennessee and is related to the famous World War I hero, Sgt. Alvin York.
Pyle graduated from Hugo High School in May 1967. From there he went to Murray State College, then to Southeastern Oklahoma State University, graduating in July 1972, with a B.S. in business, and a minor in psychology. At Southeastern, he was initiated as a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. In 2007 he was inducted into the TKE Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
Marriage and family
Pyle married Pat Baker, in September 1971. They have two children, Andrea and Eric. Chief Pyle and the First Lady make their home in Durant, Oklahoma, location of the Choctaw Nation Headquarters. Pat Baker Pyle had taught at Durant High School.
Career
Pyle began working for the Choctaw Nation in 1975 as personnel officer. He later served in a variety of civil service and elected positions. He was elected by popular vote, along with Chief Belvin, to the Agriculture Board, to oversee the Choctaw Nation Ranch at Tushka Homma.
Beginning in 1984, Pyle served as Assistant Chief for 13 years, spending a substantial part of his time in Washington, D.C.. He worked on legislation that affects Native Americans. Through this period, Pyle also worked closely with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service.
Chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
Pyle was sworn in on June 9, 1997 as Chief of the Choctaw Nation.[2] He promised to see that all Congressional actions continue to be closely monitored and that the tribe has a direct input into all legislative acts that affect the Choctaw.
Chief Pyle announced his resignation from office at a party to celebrate his 65th birthday, with an effective date of April 28, 2014. Gary Batton, Assistant Chief under Pyle, will assume the role of Chief of the Choctaw Nation.[3][1]
Public service
- 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.
- 1984-Elected as Assistant Chief of the Choctaw Nation
- Appointed by Secretary of Interior Manuel Lujan to serve on a national Task Force 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.[4]
- 1994 – Appointed to the Inter Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes.
- 1996 – Served as the President of the Oklahoma Area Health Board and was also a member of the National Health Board.[4]
- 1997 – Served on Board of Directors of Landmark Bank and Durant Chamber of Commerce.
Legacy and honors
- 2014 - Named as a distinguished alumni and benefactor by Southeastern Oklahoma State University[4]
- 2006 - Inducted into the Tau Kappa Epsilon Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
- 2007 - Inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Choctaw Principal Chief announces retirement", Native Times]
- ↑ Faiman-Silva, Sandra (2000-06-01). Choctaws at the Crossroads: The Political Economy of Class and Culture in the Oklahoma Timber Region. U of Nebraska Press. pp. 224–. ISBN 978-0-8032-6902-6. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
- ↑ Associated Press, "Choctaw Chief Pyle to announce retirement", Washington Times, 22 April 2014, accessed 6 December 2014/
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Chief Gregory E. Pyle to formally announce retirement", The Telegraph, 22 April 2014