Gregory E. Pyle

Gregory Eli Pyle (April 25, 1949 – October 26, 2019) was a Native American politician who was a long-term political leader of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. He was elected as Principal Chief in 1997 and re-elected since by wide margins, reigning for almost 17 years. He resigned on April 21, 2014, effective April 28, 2014.^[1] Prior to serving as Principal Chief, he had served as Assistant Chief for 13 years. He began to work for the Choctaw Nation in 1975 as a personnel officer.

Greg Pyle
Chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
In office June 9, 1997 – April 28, 2014
Deputy	Mike Bailey Gary Batton
Preceded by	Hollis E. Roberts
Succeeded by	Gary Batton
Assistant Chief of the Choctaw Nation
In office May 31, 1984 – June 9, 1997
Leader	Hollis E. Roberts
Preceded by	Hollis E. Roberts
Succeeded by	Mike Bailey
Personal details
Born	Gregory Eli Pyle (1949-04-25)April 25, 1949 Fort Bragg, California, U.S.
Died	October 26, 2019(2019-10-26) (aged 70)
Political party	Democratic
Education	Southeastern Oklahoma State University (BA)

Early life and education

Pyle graduated from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.^[2]

Chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

Pyle was sworn in on June 9, 1997 as Chief of the Choctaw Nation.^[3] He promised to see that all Congressional actions continued to be closely monitored and that the tribe has a direct input into all legislative acts that affect the Choctaw.

Chief Pyle announced his resignation from office at a party to celebrate his 65th birthday, with an effective date of April 28, 2014. Gary Batton, Assistant Chief under Pyle, assumed the role of Chief of the Choctaw Nation.^[4][1]

Chief Pyle died on October 26, 2019, at his home in the Choctaw Nation, aged 70, of unknown causes.

Public service

• 1982 – Hired as Personnel Officer
• 1982 – Appointed to Arkansas Riverbed Board
• 1983 – Became Tribal Program Monitor to oversee and assure contract compliance of all federally funded programs being run by the tribe.
• Testified before Congress for the Arkansas Riverbed case, which was won by the Choctaw, Cherokee and Chickasaw nations.
• 1984 – Elected as Assistant Chief of the Choctaw Nation
• Appointed by Secretary of Interior Manuel Lujan Jr. to serve on a national Task Force to reorganize the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Two years later reappointed by Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt and headed up several subcommittees on the Task Force.^[5]
• 1994 – Appointed to the Inter Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes.
• 1996 – Served as the President of the Oklahoma Area Health Board and was also a member of the National Health Board.^[5]
• 1997 – Served on Board of Directors of Landmark Bank and Durant Chamber of Commerce.