Greg Pyle
Chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
In office
June 9, 1997 – April 28, 2014
Preceded byHollis E. Roberts
Succeeded byGary Batton
Personal details
Born
Gregory Eli Pyle

(1949-04-25)April 25, 1949
Fort Bragg, California, U.S.
DiedOctober 26, 2019(2019-10-26) (aged 70)
Political partyDemocratic
EducationSoutheastern Oklahoma State University (BA)

Gregory Eli Pyle (April 25, 1949 – October 26, 2019) was an American politician who 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, reigning for almost 17 years. 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 a personnel officer.

Early life and education

Pyle graduated from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity.[2]

Chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

Pyle was sworn in on June 9, 1997 as Chief of the Choctaw Nation.[3] He promised to see that all Congressional actions continued 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, assumed the role of Chief of the Choctaw Nation.[4][1]

Chief Pyle died on October 26, 2019, at his home in the Choctaw Nation, aged 70, of unknown causes.

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 Jr. 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.[5]
  • 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.[5]
  • 1997 – Served on Board of Directors of Landmark Bank and Durant Chamber of Commerce.

References

  1. 1 2 "Choctaw Principal Chief announces retirement", Native Times
  2. ↑ "Distinguished Alumni". Tau Kappa Epsilon. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ Associated Press, "Choctaw Chief Pyle to announce retirement", Washington Times, 22 April 2014, accessed 6 December 2014/
  5. 1 2 "Chief Gregory E. Pyle to formally announce retirement", The Telegraph, 22 April 2014
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