Marcellus Osceola Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marcellus W. Osceola Jr.
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| 7th Tribal Council Chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida | |
| Assumed office January 9, 2017 |
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| Deputy | Mitchell Cypress |
| Preceded by | James E. Billie |
Marcellus William Osceola Jr. was born in 1972. He is the current leader of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. He holds the important position of Tribal Council Chairman. He is the 7th person to serve in this role.
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Becoming a Leader
Marcellus Osceola Jr. became the Tribal Council Chairman in a special election in 2016. He took over from James Billie. James Billie had left the position. Marcellus Osceola Jr. was then re-elected for a full term in 2019.
Family History in Leadership
Marcellus Osceola Jr. comes from a family of leaders. His grandfather was Bill Osceola. Bill Osceola was the very first Tribal Council Chairman of the Seminole Tribe. He served from 1957 to 1967.
Path to the Tribal Council
Before becoming chairman, Marcellus Osceola Jr. worked hard. He first tried to join the board of directors for the Seminole Tribe in 2003. This board helps manage the tribe's businesses. He was elected to the board in 2009 on his third try.
In 2011, he was chosen to represent the Hollywood District. This was his first step onto the Tribal Council. He lives on the Hollywood Seminole Reservation.
Before Politics
Marcellus Osceola Jr. was also a business owner. He ran a limousine company. He also had a lawn care company. And he owned a seafood business. These experiences helped him prepare for his leadership role.
Important Decisions
As Tribal Council Chairman, Marcellus Osceola Jr. makes big decisions for the tribe. In 2019, he spoke with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. He told the governor that the tribe would stop making yearly payments from their casinos to the state. This decision was made because of a disagreement about other types of gambling in Florida.
