Arthur Raymond Halbritter facts for kids
Arthur Raymond (Ray) Halbritter was born on July 17, 1951. He is an American businessman and a leader of the Oneida Indian Nation. He serves as the Nation Representative and CEO of Oneida Nation Enterprises. This company runs casinos and other businesses in Upstate New York. Ray Halbritter is a member of the Oneida Indian Nation's Wolf Clan.
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Ray Halbritter's Journey
Ray Halbritter has been the Nation Representative of the Oneida Indian Nation since 1975. He became the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of their businesses in 1990. For over 30 years, he has helped the Oneida people grow stronger. He has brought back their culture and improved their economy.
Under his leadership, the Oneida Nation achieved important goals. The United States government officially recognized their traditional way of governing. He also created many health and social programs for Nation Members. New homes were built, and education and culture programs were started.
Ray Halbritter studied business at Syracuse University. He later earned his law degree from Harvard Law School. He also enjoys golf and even became a golf pro apprentice. His grandmother was Mary Cornelius Winder.
Oneida Indian Nation's Achievements
Under Ray Halbritter's guidance, the Oneida Indian Nation has achieved many great things. They helped create a special teaching position at Harvard Law School. This position focuses on American Indian law. The Nation also sponsored the "True Spirit of Thanksgiving" float. This was the first American Indian-sponsored float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
In 2007, their resort won the "Most Excellent Resort" award from Condé Nast Johansens. This award covered all resorts in the U.S. and Canada. The Oneida Indian Nation also donated to the Smithsonian Institution. Because of their support, the fourth floor of the National Museum of the American Indian is named in their honor.
The Oneida Nation also hosts a major golf tournament. It is called the PGA TOUR Turning Stone Resort Championship. This was the first regular PGA TOUR event on tribal lands. It won an award for Best Branding and Signage in 2009.
Oneida Nation Businesses
The Oneida Nation owns several successful businesses. These include the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York. They also operate Yellow Brick Road Casino and Point Place Casino. The Nation runs the SavOn chain of convenience stores.
They also have a media company. This includes Indian Country Today Media Network. This is the largest national weekly newspaper for Native Americans in the U.S. They also have a media production company.
Ray Halbritter has been an executive producer for creative projects. He produced a Grammy-nominated music album called Raccoon & Crawfish. He also produced a 3-D animated short film. This film won a Silver Davey Award and was shown at the Cannes Film Festival. It also won many awards in the U.S. and other countries.
He produced World of American Indian Dance, which aired on NBC. He also helped create interactive animated materials about Oneida history. These are used at the Utica Children’s Museum. He even helped Disney with Native music for the Walt Disney World July 4 Celebration.
Awards for Nation Enterprises
The Nation's businesses have received many national and international awards. Their luxury hotels and one restaurant at the resort have earned Four Diamond ratings from AAA. The resort was also named the Academy of Country Music’s Casino of the Year.
All three of Turning Stone’s championship golf courses are highly rated. They were listed in Golfweek magazine’s list of Top 100 courses. The Nation’s Atunyote Golf Course hosts the Turning Stone Resort Championship. It also hosts the annual Notah Begay III Foundation Challenge charity event. Famous golfer Tiger Woods won this event in 2009.
Community Service
Ray Halbritter is the chairman of the Turning Stone Resort Championship. He also leads the Upstate New York Empowerment Fund. This is the charity part of the golf tournament. It has raised a lot of money for many charities and community groups in Central New York.
He serves on the boards of directors for several organizations. These include the Environmental Media Association and the Harvard Native American Law Board. He is also a member of the Recording Academy. He is part of the National Advisory Council for the American Indian Program at Cornell University. He is also a member of the National Congress of American Indians and United South and Eastern Tribes. Ray Halbritter is a board member of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
Special Recognition
Ray Halbritter has received many awards for his work. In 2008, he was named one of Temple Adath Yeshurun’s Citizens of the Year. He also won the “Person of Achievement” Award from The Post-Standard newspaper. The Rotary Foundation gave him the Paul Harris Fellow Award.
The Rome Area Chamber of Commerce honored him for his "Outstanding Contribution to the Economic Vitality of the Community." He also received the Central New York Sales & Marketing Executives Crystal Ball award. This award recognized his business vision and his efforts to improve the lives of his people. It also honored the Nation’s economic contributions to Central New York.
Syracuse University gave him its Distinguished Entrepreneur Award. In 2009, SU Basketball Coach Jim Boeheim presented him with the Coaches Vs. Cancer Basketball Award. He also honored Ray Halbritter as Fan of the Year.
Washington Football Team Name Change
Ray Halbritter led a strong protest against the name of the NFL Washington football team. He called the name racially insensitive. On January 31, 2014, he met with a United Nations official in Manhattan. His protests helped bring attention to the issue.
Eventually, the Washington football team decided to change its name. This happened after major sponsors like Nike and FedEx threatened to stop their support. On July 13, 2020, the team announced it would retire its old name and logo.
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