Bill Anoatubby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bill Anoatubby
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| 32nd Governor of the Chickasaw Nation | |
| Assumed office October 1987 |
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| Deputy | Chris Anoatubby |
| Preceded by | Overton James |
| 1st Lieutenant Governor of the Chickasaw Nation |
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| In office 1979–1987 |
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| Governor | Overton James |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Kennedy Brown |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Billy Joe Anoatubby
November 8, 1945 Denison, Texas, U.S. |
| Nationality | American Chickasaw Nation |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Janice Loman
(m. 1967) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Murray State College East Central University (BS) Southeastern Oklahoma State University |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1963–1971 |
| Rank | Staff sergeant |
| Unit | Oklahoma Army National Guard |
Billy Joe Anoatubby (born November 8, 1945) is the 32nd Governor of the Chickasaw Nation. He has held this important leadership role since 1987. Before becoming governor, Anoatubby served as the first Lieutenant Governor of the Chickasaw Nation from 1979 to 1987. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
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Early Life and Education
Billy Joe Anoatubby was born in Denison, Texas, on November 8, 1945. He was the youngest of six children. When he was young, his father passed away. His mother then moved the family to Tishomingo, Oklahoma. This town was the first capital of the Chickasaw Nation.
In 1964, Anoatubby finished high school in Tishomingo. He was active in student government and played football. After high school, he went to Murray State College in Tishomingo. Later, he transferred to East Central University in Ada. There, he earned a degree in accounting. He also studied business and finance at East Central University and Southeastern Oklahoma State University. During his college years, he served in the Oklahoma Army National Guard. He became a staff sergeant before leaving the service in 1971.
Early Career and Tribal Service
After college, Anoatubby worked in accounting and finance. From 1972 to 1974, he was an office manager. Then, from 1974 to 1975, he worked for Little Giant Corporation. He handled accounting, budgeting, and financial analysis.
Joining the Chickasaw Nation Government
In July 1975, Anoatubby began working for the Chickasaw Nation government. His first role was Director of Tribal Health Services. He managed health programs for the tribe in 13 counties in South Central Oklahoma.
The next year, he became the director of the tribal accounting department. He helped improve the tribe's accounting systems. In 1978, he became a special assistant to the governor and controller. He helped manage programs and supervise department leaders. In 1979, he was elected as the first Lieutenant Governor of the Chickasaw Nation. He served with Governor Overton James. He was re-elected for a second term in 1983.
Governor of the Chickasaw Nation
In 1987, Billy Anoatubby was elected as the Governor of the Chickasaw Nation. This tribe is one of the largest in the United States. He is the 22nd person to hold this office. He is now serving his 10th term as governor. He has been re-elected many times, sometimes without anyone running against him.
As governor, he leads all the Nation's programs and businesses. The Chickasaw Nation has over 200 programs and services. They also have more than 100 businesses. These businesses help support the tribe. Governor Anoatubby has worked to improve the tribe in many ways. He focuses on money, education, business, protecting the environment, and healthcare.
Governor Anoatubby is known for being humble. He likes to share credit for the tribe's successes. Here are some of the things he has helped achieve:
- More Money for Education: He worked to raise funds for higher education. In 2017, the Nation provided over $19.4 million for scholarships and grants. This helped many students go to college.
- Better Healthcare: In 1994, the Chickasaw Nation took charge of its own healthcare system. They built a large medical center and four health clinics. In 2017, these facilities had over 552,000 patient visits.
- Healthy Meals for Kids: The Chickasaw Nation was the first Native American tribe to join the federal Healthy Meals for Kids program. This helps provide good food for children.
Involvement in National Politics
In 1998, Anoatubby decided to run for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He sought the Democratic Party nomination for the 3rd District of Oklahoma. This district covered a large rural area in the southeastern part of the state. He placed third in the primary election.
Later, in 2014, some people thought he might run for the U.S. Senate. However, he decided not to run. Even though he is a Democrat, he has sometimes supported Republican candidates. For example, he endorsed T. W. Shannon in the 2022 U.S. Senate special election.
Community Involvement
Besides being governor, Anoatubby is part of many community groups. He has served on boards and councils at local, state, and national levels. He has been a member and past president of the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes. He is also involved with the American Indian Cultural Center Foundation and the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. His work shows his dedication to his community and beyond.
Honors and Awards
Governor Anoatubby has received many awards for his leadership and service. In 2004, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. This is a very special honor.
He has also received many other awards, including:
- 2019 NAFOA Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2019 Oklahoma Center of Community and Justice Humanitarian Award
- 2017 Harland C. Stonecipher Award for Entrepreneurial Vision
- 2017 World Experiences Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award in Global Citizenship
- 2016 Creative Oklahoma Creativity Ambassador
- 2015 Oklahoma Association of Community Colleges Hall of Fame Inductee
- 2013 Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame Inductee
- 2010 International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Leadership Award for Public Service
- 2008 Native American Finance Officers Association Tribal Leader of the Year Award
- 2007 Minority Advocate of the Year, U.S. Small Business Administration
Personal Life
Governor Anoatubby lives in Ada, Oklahoma. He is married to Janice Marie Loman, whom he married in 1967. They have two sons, Chris and Brian. Chris Anoatubby was elected Lieutenant Governor of the Chickasaw Nation in 2019, serving alongside his father. Both sons are married and have children, making Governor Anoatubby a proud grandfather.
