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 a very important leader for the Chickasaw Nation. He has been the Governor of the Chickasaw Nation since 1987. Before becoming Governor, he served as the Lieutenant Governor from 1979 to 1987. He was chosen by the people to serve in this role.
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Early Life and School Days
Billy Joe Anoatubby was born in Denison, Texas. He was the youngest of six children. His father passed away when Billy Joe was young. His mother then moved the family to Tishomingo, Oklahoma. This town was the first capital of the Chickasaw Nation.
In 1964, he finished high school in Tishomingo. He played football and was active in student groups. After high school, he went to Murray State College. Later, he moved to East Central University in Ada. There, he earned a degree in accounting. He also studied business and finance at other universities. During his college years, he served in the Oklahoma Army National Guard. He was a staff sergeant and led a group of trucks. He left the Guard in 1971.
Starting His Career
After college, Anoatubby worked in different jobs. From 1972 to 1974, he was an office manager. Then, he worked for another company, handling accounting and finances.
Working for the Chickasaw Nation
In 1975, Billy Joe Anoatubby started working for the Chickasaw Nation government. His first job was to manage health programs for the tribe. These programs helped people in 13 counties in Oklahoma.
The next year, he became the director of the tribal accounting department. He helped make the tribe's money systems better. In 1978, he became a special assistant to the Governor. He helped manage programs and people. In 1979, he was elected as the first Lieutenant Governor of the Chickasaw Nation. He served with Governor Overton James. They were re-elected together for a second term in 1983.
Becoming Governor
In 1987, Billy Joe Anoatubby was elected as the Governor of the Chickasaw Nation. The Chickasaw Nation is one of the largest Native American tribes in the United States. He is the 22nd person to hold this important job. He has been re-elected many times and is now serving his 10th term. He was re-elected in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023. Five times, no one ran against him.
As Governor, he manages all the Nation's programs and businesses. The Chickasaw Nation has over 13,500 employees. They have more than 200 tribal programs and services. They also run over 100 tribal businesses. Governor Anoatubby has worked hard to improve life for the tribe. He focuses on money, education, business, protecting the environment, and healthcare.
People say Governor Anoatubby is a humble leader. He likes to share the credit for the Nation's successes. Here are some things he has helped achieve:
- He worked to raise money for higher education. In the past, there was only a small amount for scholarships. By 2017, the Nation provided over $19.4 million each year for scholarships and other school help.
- In 1994, the Chickasaw Nation took over its own healthcare system. They built a large medical center and four health clinics. In 2017, these facilities had over 552,000 patient visits. They also filled over 1.7 million prescriptions.
- The Chickasaw Nation was the first Native American tribe to join the Healthy Meals for Kids program. This program helps provide healthy food for children.
Community Involvement
Besides being Governor, Anoatubby is part of many groups. These groups work to help communities 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 also serves on boards for education, health, and arts organizations.
Awards and Honors
Governor Anoatubby has received many awards for his work.
- In 2004, he was added to the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
- In 2017, he received several awards for his leadership and vision.
- He has also received awards from groups like the National Cowboy Museum and the Oklahoma Center of Community and Justice.
- Many universities and foundations have honored him for his service.
Personal Life
Governor Anoatubby lives in Ada, Oklahoma. He is married to Janice Marie Loman. They got married in December 1967. They have two sons, Chris and Brian. Chris was elected Lieutenant Governor of the Chickasaw Nation in 2019. He serves alongside his father. Chris and his wife Becky have three children. Brian and his wife Melinda have two children.
