Bill John Baker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bill John Baker
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| 7th Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation | |
| In office October 19, 2011 – August 14, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Joe Crittenden (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Chuck Hoskin Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 9, 1952 Tahlequah, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Sherry Robertson |
| Education | Northeastern State University (BA) |
Bill John Baker (born February 9, 1952) is a Cherokee politician. He served as the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, which is the top elected leader of the Cherokee people. He was first elected in October 2011. Before becoming Chief, Baker spent 12 years serving on the Cherokee Tribal Council.
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Early Life and Education
Bill John Baker was born in Cherokee County, Oklahoma. His family has lived in this area for many generations. Like many Cherokee citizens, he has mixed heritage. He is 1/32 Cherokee by blood.
He finished high school at Tahlequah High School in 1969. Later, in 1972, he graduated from Northeastern State University. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science and history.
Business and Community Work
After college, Baker started a furniture store called Baker Furniture in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. He made it a very successful business. He also owns several rental properties in Tahlequah.
While running his businesses, Baker was very active in his community. He was the president of the PTA (Parent-Teacher Association). He also coached youth sports teams. He was a founding member of the Rotary Club in Tahlequah. As the elected president of the Tahlequah Chamber of Commerce, he helped the organization get out of debt.
Political Career
Bill John Baker served for 12 years on the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council. This council helps make important decisions for the Cherokee Nation. During his time on the council, Baker worked on every main committee. He strongly supported programs for education and development for the Cherokee people. He also focused on improving healthcare services.
In 1999, Baker ran for Deputy Chief of the Cherokee Nation. This was a very close election, but he was not successful.
Becoming Principal Chief
In 2011, Bill John Baker ran for Principal Chief. He ran against Chad Smith, who had been Chief for 12 years. The first election was very close, so a special second election was held on September 24, 2011. More people voted in this special election, about 20,000 in total. This was 5,000 more than in the first election.
Baker won the special election with almost 54 percent of the votes. He won by 1,534 votes. This election allowed more people to vote, which helped increase participation.
After winning, Baker supported President Barack Obama for reelection in 2012. Baker said that Obama was "the best president for Indian country in the history of the United States."
Key Accomplishments as Chief
As Principal Chief, Bill John Baker made many positive changes for the Cherokee Nation.
- Investing in Healthcare: Soon after taking office, Baker sold the Cherokee Nation’s private plane. He used the money from the sale to fund healthcare services for Cherokee citizens. In March 2013, he announced a $100 million investment from Cherokee Nation Businesses' profits. This money was used to expand healthcare facilities and services. These improvements helped reduce wait times and made healthcare better for tribal citizens. The Cherokee Nation health system is the largest one run by a tribe in the United States.
- Creating Jobs: During his first year as Chief, 750 new Cherokee people were hired. Creating good jobs was a top goal for Baker. When the Cherokee Nation’s casino in Ramona, Oklahoma, opened in 2012, all of its employees were Cherokee citizens.
- Housing Program: In 2012, Baker brought back the Cherokee Nation’s housing program. For the first time in over ten years, the Nation started building houses again. This program helped Cherokee citizens own their own homes.
- Economic Growth: In 2013, Baker announced that the Cherokee Nation and its businesses had a record-breaking year for profits. Their activities had a $1.3 billion economic impact in Oklahoma. A study showed that the tribe's work supported over 14,000 jobs and provided more than $559 million in income.
- College Scholarships: Under Baker's leadership, the Cherokee Nation increased funding for its college scholarship program. This helped more Cherokee citizens go to college and achieve their dreams.
- Cherokee Language Preservation: Baker made preserving and promoting the Cherokee language a high priority. He supported the Cherokee Language Immersion School for young children. He also promoted the Cherokee Speaker’s Bureau, where elders could gather and speak the language. The Cherokee Nation Tribal Youth Council launched the "Gen-I Cherokee Language 2020 Challenge." This encouraged all Cherokee citizens to learn or speak the language daily. He noted that the language was becoming available on smartphones and other technology.
Personal Life
Bill John Baker married Susan Elizabeth "Beth" Hulcher on August 1, 1977. They had three daughters and two sons. Beth passed away on April 28, 1995.
He later married Sherry Jean Robertson. They live in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Baker is a member of the Baptist Church.
