Inductees

Betty Ruth Kemp was born on May 5, 1930, in Tishomingo, Okla., to Raymond and Mamie Kemp. She is the great-granddaughter of fellow Chickasaw Nation Hall of Fame Inductee, Levi "Itawamba Miko" Colbert.

Retired Army Col. Eugene "Gene" Thompson was born in Oklahoma City to Thomas and Thelma Thompson. He is the grandson to fellow 2013 Hall of Fame inductee Thomas Benjamin Thompson, Sr., and nephew to 1990 inductee Te Ata Thompson Fisher.

Colbert Latimer "Bud" Baker was born in 1924 to Colbert Latimer Baker and Martha Lois Brunt. Mr. Baker has distinguished himself in his profession, in military service and through outstanding contributions to the Chickasaw Nation.

Thomas Benjamin Thompson, Sr. was born on May 20, 1865, in Emet, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory. He was born to Thomas Jefferson Thompson and Millenium “Lena” Bynum.

Born in Mississippi about 1837, Benson Pikey came to Indian Territory during the time of Chickasaw Removal.

Cyrus Harris was born August 22, 1817, to Elizabeth Oxberry and James Harris near Pontotoc, Mississippi, on the estate of his grandmother Molly Colbert Gunn. His grandfather was General William Colbert, a renowned leader of the Chickasaws. In 1827, he was sent to Monroe Mission School and later an Indian school in Giles County, Tennessee. In 1830, he returned to Mississippi to live with his grandmother, mother and later his uncle Martin Colbert.

Levi Colbert, or Itawambe Miko (Bench Chief), was an early leader of the Chickasaw Nation. He was honorable, true and faithful to the Chickasaw people from his youth to the date of his death. He was born in the Chickasaw Nation, east of the Tennessee River in Alabama, in 1759.

Charles Guy Tate was born on February 9, 1940, in Ardmore, Oklahoma, to Ernest W. Tate and Juanita J. Keel Tate. Charles is a descendant of Edmund Pickens, first elected Chickasaw chief in Indian Territory, and Cyrus Harris, the first elected Chickasaw governor.

Towana Spivey is the descendent of several generations of Chickasaws who came to Indian Territory in 1837 from northern Mississippi. He was born in Madill, Oklahoma, and still lives on the original 140-acre Chickasaw allotment of his grandparents Henry “Buck” Russell and Gladys Rogers.

Chief Tishu Miko (now written as Tishomingo) was born about 1735 in Mississippi and has come to be remembered as one of the last great chiefs of the Chickasaws. Tishomingo, meaning "King's Assistant" or "Servant King," served as a valued counselor to such notable Chickasaw leaders as Piomingo, Itawamba and Ishtehotopa.

Robert Perry is the son of Johnson and Sophia Frye Reeder Perry and has dedicated many years of service, time and skills to the Chickasaw Nation. 

Jess Green was born Sept. 21, 1952, in Ada, Okla., to J.L. and Mary Jo Green. He graduated with honors from East Central University in 1974 and received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma School of Law in 1977.

Colbert Franklin Hackler was born in 1918 in Mannsville, Okla. He received his bachelor’s degree in fine arts at Oklahoma City University and obtained his master and doctorate degrees in music education at the University of Oklahoma. Hackler worked as Elk City Schools music educator for 23 years. He began teaching at the University of Oklahoma Laboratory School in 1960 and in 1972 he moved to the main campus to teach. He retired in 1981, but returned to teaching and performing music soon after.

Piomingo served Chickasaws during the 18th century. He was born about 1750 in a settlement in Mississippi. Piomingo was a pre-removal chief who provided strong leadership. He acted as a diplomat in order to protect Chickasaw sovereignty. Piomingo met with other southeastern tribes, governors of states and President George Washington to reach agreements that benefitted his people. One of his greatest achievements was the signing of the Treaty of Hopewell in 1786, which formalized the tribe’s alliance with the U.S. government.

Margaret Roach Wheeler is an award-winning weaver, fiber expert and textile artist. She served as the artist-in-residence at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in New York. Wheeler exhibited works at the Museum of Art and Design and the Institute of American Indian Arts, among others. She won numerous awards including the President’s Award at Red Earth Festival and textile awards at the 2009 Southeastern Art Show and Market. Wheeler is the owner of Mahota Handwovens, where she designs contemporary fashions and traditional Native American regalia.

Lisa Johnson-Billy is the daughter of Frank and the late Beverly Johnson and the granddaughter of the late Holmes Colbert and Evelyn Ward-Johnson. She is also the sister of Frank Johnson, Jr. In 2004, Lisa Johnson-Billy was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in District 42. She is the first Native American and woman elected from this district. Rep. Billy is the chairman of the newly created International, Federal and Tribal Relations Committee and she sits on the General Govt/Transportation, Human Services and the Children & Families committees. In 2006, Lisa initiated the first Oklahoma Native American Caucus and currently serves as the co-chair. She is also vice-chair of the majority caucus and a deputy whip.

Overton “Sobe” Love was born in Holly Springs, Mississippi around 1823. He was about 20 years old when he came with one of the first caravans to Indian Territory during the forced removal of the Chickasaw Nation.

Born in 1906, Lushanya became one of the world’s most famous and loved operatic sopranos in the 1940’s and 1950’s. She grew up on her family farm where she learned to break horses, shoot a rifle and started learning the piano when she was just six years old. After studying opera at several American universities, Lushanya left for Berlin, Germany to study at the Staatliche Akademische Hoschscule fur Musik from 1931-1934. After attending school in Berlin, she won 12 more scholarships offered by the Mussolini academy to foreigners.

Chickasaw artist Daniel Worcester was born to D.D. and Dorothy Worcester in Ardmore, Oklahoma in 1955. As a child, he lived on his grandparent’s (original enrollees) original allotment north of Pontotoc. His time spent there gave him a life long desire and connection to the land and his Chickasaw heritage. As an adult, Worcester began to experiment with different art forms and found that he had a talent and interest with functional art in metal.

Born in the Chickasaw homeland in 1810, Winchester Colbert was the youngest member of the Levi Colbert family that included 12 brothers and 8 sisters. Winchester was fluent in Chickasaw, Choctaw and English. Since he could read and write these languages, he was a great candidate for diplomacy.

Born in Duncan, Oklahoma, on October 2, 1946, to parents Fred L. and Marjean Kimberlin McCarter, Ray often fended for himself and did what he could to provide for a younger brother. Through the encouragement of his teachers and other community leaders, Ray began to develop leadership skills that would serve him later in life.

Born in Ardmore, Oklahoma, on September 10, 1910, to Guy Keel, Chickasaw Roll No. 1866, and Lula Potts Keel, Chickasaw Roll No. 1867, Juanita was the 10th of 12 children. At birth, her father gave her the Chickasaw name of “Foshi,” which she always cherished. She was a great-great grandchild of Cyrus Harris, the first Governor of the Chickasaw Nation, and a great-grandchild of Edmund Pickens, first elected Chief of the Chickasaw Nation.

Gene Underwood was born on April 5, 1934, near Tishomingo, Oklahoma, to parents Joe and Mary Underwood. After graduating from Russett High School, he went on to attend Haskell Institute in Lawrence, KS.

Pauline Carpenter Brown is a fluent speaker of the Chickasaw language and has considerable knowledge of Chickasaw history and culture.

Zane Browning began his career with the BIA at age 19. In 1991, he received the Meritorious Service Award from the Department of the Interior in recognition of his dedicated service and outstanding contributions on behalf of Indian people.

Linda Henderson Hogan is a poet, short story writer, novelist, playwright, and essayist. Her novel Mean Spirit was a finalist for a Pulitzer in 1990 and won an Oklahoma Book Award for Fiction in 1991. She was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers' Circle of the Americas in 1998. Other awards are too numerous to list.

Robert R. Stephens served on the original steering committee which wrote the by-laws of the Chickasaw Nation in 1978.

Mr. Amerson serves as director of Oklahoma Boy’s State, a program designed to teach citizenship. He served as assistant director of that organization for seven years prior to his appointment as director.

Mr. Carter was one of the first elected to represent Oklahoma in the U.S. Congress. He represented southern Oklahoma in that body from 1906 to 1927.

Ataloa , a cousin of TeAta Thompson Fisher, was a nationally renowned concert vocalist, educator, and advocate for Native American education and fine arts.

Mrs. Willmond is co-author of Chickasaw: An Analytical Dictionary, published by the University of Oklahoma Press in 1994. This analytical dictionary is one of the resources used in language classes taught by the Chickasaw Nation.

No new members were inducted into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame in 2005. A special event was conducted to honor all previous inductees.

Thomas Jeffery Cole was elected Nov. 6 to represent Oklahoma's 4th Congressional District, which includes 10 of 13 counties within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation.

William G. Paul, who was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame Nov. 20, 2003, is a former managing partner of Oklahoma's oldest and largest law firm, Crowe & Dunlevy, and past president of the American Bar Association.

Helen Cravatt James, who passed away in Oct. 1991, was honored posthumously for her work helping those with alcohol and drug addictions. She helped establish, and later managed, the Kullihoma Alcohol/Drug Treatment Center.

Chenena James Roach was inducted into the hall of fame for her dedication to promoting and preserving the history, culture and heritage of the Chickasaw Nation and its people.

During his service in the U.S. Asbury was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. His bravery under fire earned him great respect. His selfless acts of courage saved the lives of his commander, a glider crew and members of his unit. He served in the 82nd Airborne Division.

First Native American astronaut in the United States space program, Commander Herrington is a great inspiration to youth of all walks of life. He spends a great deal of his free time serving as a motivational speaker to young people, encouraging them to pursue their education.

Recently honored for his 45 years of service to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Mr. Speaks' career has included serving as a teacher, supervisor, manager, agency superintendent, area director and most recently as the director of the BIA Northwest Regional Office in Oregon.

Martin Van Buren Cheadle was tireless in his efforts as a servant of the Chickasaw people. Mr. Cheadle presided over the Chickasaw Senate during the last session of the tribal legislature prior to statehood.

Geraldine Factor Greenwood has made significant contributions to preserving the Chickasaw Language.

James Cotton McCurtain helped his people by serving as an interpreter during the enrollment period under the Dawes Commission.

Mike Larsen, a world renowned artist, has brought honor to the history and culture of the Chickasaw Nation through much of his artwork.

John McLish was the son of a white interpreter for the Chickasaw Nation and a Chickasaw mother.

Palmer Simeon Mosely was the 20th and 23rd Governor of the Chickasaw Nation. He served his tribe in many capacities including National Interpreter, a position he held for 24 years.

Helen TeAta Gale Cole was born half Chickasaw and half Choctaw in Tishomingo, Oklahoma in 1922.

Neal McCaleb, who served as Assistant Secretary, Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs from July, 2001 until November, 2002, was a strong advocate for tribal economic development during his tenure in office.

Samuel Paul was born near Fort Arbuckle, I.T. in the Chickasaw Nation in 1848. Ten years later, his family founded what would become Pauls Valley, Oklahoma.

Governor Robert Maxwell Harris, the 21st governor of the Chickasaw Nation, labored unceasingly to promote the educational and overall progress of the Chickasaw people.

Kenneth Lance, born March 4, 1928, in Earlsboro, Oklahoma, traveled the world as a trick roper, rodeo promoter, and all-around cowboy.

Thomas Embert Phillips began his art training at the Helen Lorenze Art School in Oklahoma City at the young age on nine. From there, he went on to study at Phillips University, the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, and the Kansas City Art Institute.

Douglas Henry Johnston was born October 13, 1856 in the Choctaw Nation in Indian Territory.

Adam Charles Walker, a Master Artist of the Oklahoma State Arts Council, helped preserve the tribal art of making stickball sticks, bows, arrows, and tortoise shell shakers.

Reverend Jesse Humes, a fluent speaker of English, Choctaw, and Chickasaw, was very aware of the importance of his cultural heritage and worked with his wife Vinnie May (James) Humes to compile A Chickasaw Dictionary.

Euel "Monk" Moore, a former major league pitcher, was posthumously inducted into the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame in May, 1989.

Jesse "Cab" Renick was born in Love County, Oklahoma in 1917 and grew up playing basketball on a dirt court in Marietta. His love for the game continued and, after graduating high school, he began playing for Hale's Tire Shop, an Amateur Athletic Union (AA) team.

Eula Pearl Carter Scott was born on December 9, 1915 in Marlow, Oklahoma to father, George, and mother, Lucy, who was an original enrollee of the Chickasaw Nation. Pearl's colorful life took her from Marlow to the Hall of Fame.

David R. Stout is a former chairman of the tribal legislature who is still respected for his work on behalf of the Chickasaw people.

Colbert Ashalatubbi Burris dedicated his life to the service and progress of the Chickasaw people. He will forever be remembered for his work in the history of the Chickasaw Nation.

Overton M. Buck Cheadle, a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, served in the education field for over 40 years.

Elba "Cutchie" Johnston is honored for her tireless efforts in serving the Chickasaw people and preserving the Chickasaw culture and history.

Judge Haskell Paul was referred to as a "walking history book" and an authority on the Chickasaw people.

Sally Chloe Grinslade Bell will be remembered for a lifetime of service to the Chickasaw people.

Kenneth Meeler was known for his activism and participation in working for his Chickasaw people. His foresight and the influence of his legacy helped form a guide for the Chickasaw Nation that will impact generations to come.

James A. Jennings was born in Wynnewood, Oklahoma in 1920. His life was one that left him remembered as a jurist, scholar, and historian who preserved and recorded the proud history of the Chickasaws.

Edmund Pickens' dedicated service to the Chickasaw people led him into several leadership positions throughout his career. He served as the first chief of the Chickasaw District of the Choctaw Nation in 1841 and became the second controlling Chief Financial Official and Treasurer. Because of his popularity, he was elected Tribal Captain in 1847.

Vinnie May Seely James Humes was born in Coatworth, Indian Territory in 1903 and is an original enrolled member of the Chickasaw tribe.

Te Ata Thompson Fisher, whose name means Bearer of the Morning, was born December 3, 1895, near Emet, Oklahoma. Her career as an actor and storyteller spanned over eight decades and led her to perform in England and Scandinavia, at the White House for President Roosevelt, for the King and Queen of Great Britain, and on stages across the United States.

Clayburn Straughn was born in 1923 and grew up during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Clayburn’s mother, Frances Carlton Straughn, was an original Chickasaw enrollee and his great-grandfather came from the Old Chickasaw Nation during the Great Removal of 1837. Clayburn was also a direct descendant of Governor William Guy, who was Chickasaw governor from 1886-1888. Like millions of Americans during the 1930s, Clayburn’s family managed to get by during a time of great financial hardship. The Straughn family home was located in Wilson, Oklahoma—a tiny community just west of Ardmore. As The Grapes of Wrath taught us, the depression affected everyone’s way of life, but it was especially hard in small-town Oklahoma “dust bowls.”

No new members were inducted into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame in 1988.

Overton James (Indian name - Itoahtubbi) was born July 21, 1925, in Bromide, Oklahoma.