Five to be inducted into Chickasaw Hall of Fame May 31


This article appeared in the May 2018 edition of the Chickasaw Times

NORMAN, Okla. – A veteran educator, a financial scholar, an energy-sector leader, a tribal ambassador and tribal leader make up the 2018 class of the Chickasaw Nation Hall of Fame.

Induction ceremonies will be 6 p.m., Thursday, May 31, at the Embassy Suites Hotel.

Governor Bill Anoatubby will induct the new class of honorees.

Jerry Brown, Edmond, Oklahoma; the late Kennedy W. Brown; William Rudolph Kinney, Jr., Austin, Texas; the late Lila Dean McManus; and Joe F. Moore, Sr., Horseshoe Bay, Texas will be inducted into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame during the ceremony.

“It is our privilege to honor these individuals for the substantial contributions and significant impact they have made to the Chickasaw Nation and throughout the world,” Gov. Anoatubby said. “Induction into the Chickasaw Nation Hall of Fame is a high honor bestowed upon Chickasaw citizens who have distinguished themselves through outstanding contributions to the Chickasaw Nation and our communities.

“As we induct these worthy individuals into the hall of fame, we recognize the dedication, integrity and commitment to excellence each person has demonstrated throughout their lives.”

Jerry Brown

Jerry Brown has a lifelong legacy of service to her country, her family and to enhancing the education of Oklahoma’s youth.

Two months after earning a college degree in 1943, at the height of World War II, Mrs. Brown felt a call to duty and enlisted in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps.

She served in a photo-intelligence unit at the Pentagon and was one of the first to witness the devastation when the U.S. B-29 bomber Enola Gay dropped the first atomic bomb on Japan.

Following the war, she accepted a teaching position with the Edmond School District. Mrs. Brown served as a full-time and substitute teacher until she reached age 90.

Retiring in 2012, she became an active member of the University of Oklahoma Medical Center Edmond Volunteer Auxiliary. She served as president of the organization and was named Volunteer of the Year.

Born in 1921 to Alymer Hightown Meek and Annie Rennie Colbert-Meek, education was a priority in her home.

Mrs. Brown attended Classen High School in Oklahoma City, graduating in 1939.

When she was 17, she enrolled at Oklahoma A&M College (now Oklahoma State University) to study education. To pay her way through school, she took on several jobs. Mrs. Brown was also a member of the Aggie Pep Squad and an “Aggiette” cheerleader her senior year.

She graduated in 1943 with a bachelor’s degree in education, and later earned a master’s degree in education.

She married Syl Meek in 1946. The couple raised two children.

Kennedy Brown

Kennedy Brown devoted his entire life in service to his country, his community and to the Chickasaw people.

In 1987, Mr. Brown was elected Lieutenant Governor of the Chickasaw Nation, serving until 1991. Following his term, Mr. Brown became a special assistant to Governor Bill Anoatubby, contributing years of experience to a wide variety of projects.

From 1987 to 2010, Mr. Brown was a voting member of the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes of Oklahoma. In 1994, he was appointed to the board of directors of the Chickasaw Historical Society, serving more than two decades. He also served as chairman emeritus of the Chickasaw Foundation.

Mr. Brown served in the Oklahoma Army National Guard for 42 years, retiring with the rank of captain. He was present at Seeley Chapel in 1963 to witness Overton James assume the office of Governor of the Chickasaw Nation.

Mr. Brown, a full-blood Chickasaw, went to work for the Chickasaw Nation in 1974, one of just three full-time employees, and continued to serve the tribe for 43 years.

His first position was director of the Comprehensive Employment Training Act. He continued to oversee job training programs under the Job Training Partnership Act. He worked to help tribal citizens gain the training and education needed to secure employment or improve their positions in the workforce.

Mr. Brown was dedicated to numerous organizations throughout the community. He served on the Pontotoc County Election Board, Mental Health Services of Southern Oklahoma, Ada Masonic Lodge, American Red Cross, Ada Chapter; Ada and McAlester District Girl Scouts; Ada Boys and Girls Club, Ada Kiwanis Club and Ada City Schools Foundation.

He was born May 19, 1939, in Stonewall, Oklahoma to Adolphous D. and Lula Viola Johnson Brown. He graduated from Tupelo High School and attended East Central University.

He married Richenda Lynn Dunn Feb. 16, 1973. They have one son.

William R. Kinney, Jr.

As a globally-recognized auditing standard setter, William R. Kinney, Jr., has made worldwide contributions through auditing and accounting research, by contributing to standard-setting organizations, and fostering growth and excellence in his fellow scholars and practice.

During his 50-year academic career, Mr. Kinney authored or co-authored nine books, monographs and more than 100 scholarly articles that appeared in top accounting journals and substantially influenced U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) policy.

He served on multiple editorial boards, as well as the American Institute of CPA’s Auditing Standards Board (AICPA). He also served two terms on the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board. The AICPA honored him with its award for Distinguished Achievement in Accounting Education, and in 2014, he was inducted into the internationally recognized Accounting Hall of Fame.

Mr. Kinney was born Aug. 13, 1942, to William Rudolph and Beulah Mae Kinney in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. As the great-great grandson of Chickasaw Governor Cyrus Harris, he developed a deep appreciation for the rich cultural heritage of the Chickasaw Nation and his parents instilled the value of education. He embodied both of these values during his academic career.

Mr. Kinney earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Oklahoma State University and a Ph.D. from Michigan State University.

In 1969, he joined the faculty at the University of Iowa. He joined the University of Michigan as Price Waterhouse Professor and Director of the Paton Accounting Center in 1983.

In 1988, he was named the Charles and Elizabeth Prothro Regents Chair in Business at the University of Texas (UT) at Austin. During his tenure, he co-founded and directed UT’s Center for Business Measurement and Assurance Services.

Mr. Kinney was the American Accounting Association’s Director of Research, and a U.S. SEC Academic Fellow.  He received the AAA’s Outstanding Accounting Educator Award, three AAA/Deloitte Wildman Medals for contributions to practice, and a Notable Contribution to the Accounting Literature Award.

Mr. Kinney and his wife, Carolyn, have three children and six grandchildren.

Lila Dean McManus

Lila Dean McManus devoted 40 years of her life to enhancing the lives of Chickasaw people.

Mrs. McManus was elected to the Chickasaw Legislature in 1999 and was re-elected five times, serving until her passing in 2017.

She served the Chickasaw Legislature as Secretary in 2002-03 and as Human Resources Committee chairperson. She was a member of the legislative, finance, health, historical and cultural preservation committees.

In 1975, Mrs. McManus, a full-blood Chickasaw, became one of only 25 employees of the Chickasaw Nation.

Hired as a Community Health Representative for southern Pontotoc County, Mrs. McManus served the Chickasaw people in several capacities in the program, including supervisor and coordinator of the department.

She later served as Chickasaw Nation Director of Human Resources and Director of Training and Development.

Mrs. McManus served on and represented several councils and associations during her career, including the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes, National Indian Council on Aging and National Diabetes Association board member.

While serving as the president of the National Association of Community Health Representatives, she received the 1991 Stellar Leadership Award from the U.S. Indian Health Service. She was appointed alternate delegate to the White House Conference on Aging in 2005.

Mrs. McManus was among 50 Native American elders from more than 25 tribes honored in 2016 by the American Association for Retired Persons (AARP). Additionally, she was a longtime member of the National Foundation for Women Legislators.

Born July 20, 1938 in Madill, Oklahoma, Mrs. McManus attended Kingston and Madill schools and married Harrel D. McManus Feb. 19, 1955. The couple had six children.

Joe F. Moore

Joe F. Moore had a long career in the oil, gas and computing business that began as a consulting company and grew into a worldwide enterprise.

Graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a degree in chemical engineering, Mr. Moore’s company improved efficiency and computer modeling of oil refining operations, marking a significant achievement.

Throughout his career, he has been recognized for accomplishments in engineering, electronic computing, university education, science policy and research.

Mr. Moore was a founding member of the President’s Circle of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine. In the early 1900s, he was named a trustee of the Southwest Research Institute.

His pioneering efforts in the field of electronic computing is documented in the professional journal “Annals of the History of Computing.”

Additionally, he is recognized in “Who’s Who in America” “Who’s Who in Finance and History” and “Who’s Who in the World.”

Throughout his life, Mr. Moore contributed his time and service to his church by working in various roles and leadership positions. He continues to serve today. He has been an active citizen in the local community, serving on various management boards.

He is a founding board member of the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion for the Performing Arts.

Mr. Moore has been recognized by his peers for his expertise and leadership. He is known to his family and friends for his dignity, integrity and civility.

The great-grandson of Colbert Ashalatubby Burris, Mr. Moore was born and raised in Oklahoma.

Mr. Moore and his wife, Glenna, raised five children.

He is proud of his heritage and shares it with all of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, continuing the legacy of his ancestry.

Chickasaw Nation Hall of Fame May 31 in Norman

The 2018 Chickasaw Nation Hall of Fame ceremony will take place Thursday, May 31, at the Embassy Suites Hotel, Norman, Oklahoma.

Induction ceremonies will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the banquet will begin at 6 p.m.

There is no charge to attend, but reservations are required for the event, which is expected to accommodate approximately 700 guests.

Reservations will be accepted beginning April 2 and the deadline to make reservations is May 21.

To make reservations contact the Chickasaw Nation Office of Special Events at (580) 332-1165 or email Ginger.Edmondson@chickasaw.net.

Induction to the Chickasaw Nation Hall of Fame is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a Chickasaw citizen by the Chickasaw Nation. For more information visit hof.chickasaw.net

This year marks the 31st anniversary of Chickasaw Hall of Fame.

Live video streaming will be available at HOF.Chickasaw.net and via Facebook Live at Facebook/TheChickasawNation.