W. Richard West Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
W. Richard West Jr.
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| Born |
Walter Richard West Jr.
January 6, 1943 |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Beth Braden |
| Children | 2 |
Walter Richard "Rick" West Jr. (born January 6, 1943) is a very important leader in the world of museums. He is currently the president and CEO of the Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles. Before that, he helped start and lead the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. Rick West is also a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes from Oklahoma. He is even a Peace Chief of the Southern Cheyenne. His whole career has been about helping Native American communities with their culture, art, education, and legal matters.
Early Life and Education
Rick West was born in San Bernardino, California. He grew up in a log cabin in Muskogee, Oklahoma. His mother was Maribelle McCrea West. His father was Walter Richard West Sr., who was a famous Cheyenne painter. His father also led the art department at Bacone College.
Rick West studied American history at the University of Redlands in California. He graduated with high honors in 1965. He then earned a master's degree in American history from Harvard University in 1968. Later, he went to Stanford Law School and became a lawyer in 1971.
Professional Career Highlights
Rick West worked as a lawyer in Washington, D.C., and Albuquerque. He helped many Native American tribes and other groups with legal issues. He worked with different courts and government departments.
Later, West became the founding director of the National Museum of the American Indian at the Smithsonian. During his time there, some questions were raised about his travel expenses. An investigation found that he should have been more careful with his spending. West agreed to pay back some money to the Smithsonian. He stated that his travel was for museum business and had been approved.
From 2007 to 2010, West was a Vice President for the International Council of Museums. In 2011, he was the temporary director for the Textile Museum in Washington D.C. Since 2011, he has been on the board of the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation. In 2012, the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, & Museums (ATALM) gave him an award. That same year, he became the new President and CEO of the Autry Museum of the American West.
Family Life
Rick West is married to Mary Beth Braden. She is also a Stanford graduate and teaches political science. They have two grown children named Amy and Ben.
