Bill Anoatubby has served as Governor of the Chickasaw Nation since 1987.
He has been active in tribal government since 1975. His previous positions include
director of tribal health services, director of finance, special assistant to the governor,
controller, and he was the tribe’s first lieutenant governor.
In his first term, Governor Anoatubby established goals of economic development and
self-sufficiency for the Chickasaw Nation and its people. Today, the Chickasaw Nation is
well on its way to achieving those goals.
In 1987, the tribe had approximately 250 employees. Today, the Chickasaw Nation
employs more than 13,500 people. The financial condition of the tribe has improved
tremendously. Funding for tribal operations has increased exponentially, and tribal assets
have grown two-hundredfold.
The Chickasaw Nation operates more than 100 diversified businesses and invests much
of its revenue into funding more than 200 programs and services. These programs cover
education, health care, youth, aging, housing and more, all of which directly benefit
Chickasaw families, Oklahomans and their communities.
Under Governor Anoatubby’s direction, the Chickasaw Nation places a strong emphasis
on preserving and sharing its heritage, history, language and culture. This commitment
can be seen in the various artistically and culturally-centered programs, language services
and the world-renowned Chickasaw Cultural Center.
Governor Anoatubby holds an accounting degree from East Central University, a
business degree from Murray State College and has received honorary doctorate degrees
from four universities across Oklahoma. He also sits on numerous local and national
boards.
Governor Anoatubby has received dozens of awards including being named an Oklahoma
Creativity Ambassador, he has been inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, the
Oklahoma Association of Community Colleges Hall of Fame, as well as the Oklahoma
Historians Hall of Fame. In addition, he has been named the minority advocate of the
year from the U.S. Small Business Administration among many other awards and honors.
