Larry Echo Hawk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Larry Echo Hawk
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Echo Hawk in 2009
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| 11th Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs | |
| In office May 22, 2009 – April 27, 2012 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Carl Artman |
| Succeeded by | Del Laverdure (acting) |
| 30th Attorney General of Idaho | |
| In office January 7, 1991 – January 2, 1995 |
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| Governor | Cecil Andrus |
| Preceded by | Jim Jones |
| Succeeded by | Al Lance |
| Member of the Idaho House of Representatives from the Bannock County district |
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| In office 1982–1986 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | August 2, 1948 Cody, Wyoming, U.S. |
| Nationality | American Pawnee Nation |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Terry Echo Hawk |
| Children | 6 |
| Education | Brigham Young University (BS) University of Utah (JD) Stanford University (MBA) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  United States Marine Corps |
Larry J. Echo Hawk was born on August 2, 1948. He is an American lawyer, a legal expert, and a politician. He is a member of the Pawnee Nation.
From 2009 to 2012, Larry Echo Hawk worked for U.S. President Barack Obama. He was the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs. Before that, he was the Attorney General of Idaho from 1991 to 1995. He was the first Native American to be elected to this job. He also served two terms in the Idaho House of Representatives.
In 2012, he became a leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is the last Democrat to have been the Attorney General of Idaho.
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Early Life and School
Larry Echo Hawk was born in Cody, Wyoming, in 1948. His family is part of the Pawnee Nation. His father worked in the oil and gas industry.
Before he started first grade, his family moved to Farmington, New Mexico. When he was 14, his family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He went to Brigham Young University on a football scholarship. He studied physical education and zoology. After college, he served for two years in the United States Marine Corps.
He earned a law degree in 1973 from the University of Utah. Later, he earned a business degree from Stanford University.
His Career Journey
Larry Echo Hawk started his law career helping Native American groups in California. In 1975, he opened his own law office in Salt Lake City, Utah. He became the main lawyer for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes in Idaho in 1977. He also worked as a special prosecutor for the Navajo Nation in 1985.
He later moved to Idaho and became active in the Democratic Party. In 1982, he was elected to the Idaho House of Representatives. He served two terms there. In 1986, he became the prosecuting attorney for Bannock County.
In 1990, Larry Echo Hawk was elected Attorney General of Idaho. He was the first Native American to hold this position in Idaho.
He helped with Bill Clinton's presidential campaign in 1992. He spoke at the Democratic National Convention that year. He also led the Idaho group at the convention.
In 1994, he ran for Governor of Idaho but did not win. After that, he became a professor at BYU's J. Reuben Clark Law School. He taught classes on law and Native American law. He also wrote several important papers.
Larry Echo Hawk is allowed to practice law in Idaho, Utah, and California.
Working for Native American Communities
Larry Echo Hawk has worked with many groups that help Native Americans. President Bill Clinton chose him to be on a council about youth justice. He also served on the board of the American Indian Community Resource Center. His brother, John EchoHawk, leads the Native American Rights Fund.
In 2009, President Obama appointed him Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs. During his time, the government helped Native American tribes gain more land. This helped tribes become more independent. He also helped make agreements about water rights with tribes.
He helped put the Tribal Law and Order Act into action. He also helped start the Tribal Leadership Conference. This meeting brings together leaders from 566 federally recognized tribes with the U.S. president and government leaders. He left this job in 2012.
In 2019, he started working for the governor of Utah. He became a special advisor on Native American affairs.
Service in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
| Larry J. Echo Hawk | |
|---|---|
| First Quorum of the Seventy | |
| March 31, 2012 – October 6, 2018 | |
| Called by | Thomas S. Monson |
| End reason | Designated emeritus General Authority |
| Emeritus General Authority | |
| October 6, 2018 | |
| Called by | Russell M. Nelson |
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Larry Echo Hawk has held many leadership roles. He has been a president of a student group at BYU. He has also served as a bishop and a high councilor.
In 2012, he became a general authority in the church. This means he is a senior leader. He traveled a lot, meeting with Latter-day Saint Native Americans. From 2013 to 2015, he served in the Philippines. From 2015 to 2018, he worked in the church's Correlation Department. In October 2018, he became an emeritus general authority.
Personal Life
Larry Echo Hawk married Teresa "Terry" Pries in 1968. Their marriage took place in the Salt Lake Temple. They have six children together.
