Gregory E. Pyle, Chief of the Choctaw Nation

Choctaw Chief Gregory E. Pyle

Chief Gregory E. Pyle became Chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma in 1997, after serving more than 13 years as the Assistant Chief of the tribe. Chief Pyle has negotiated millions of dollars in new contracts for the tribe, as well as expanded existing programs and initiated many innovative services.

He and his wife, Patti, have been blessed with two children and six grandchildren. Their home is in Durant, Oklahoma, yet Chief Pyle extends his time and tribal services to communities and Choctaws across the United States.

Recent awards honoring Chief Pyle include being named a Distinguished Alumni and Benefactor for SOSU and being named an Honorary Member of the Oklahoma State Troopers Association. He was selected as a 2007 honoree inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Chief Pyle is very proud that the Choctaw Nation has been named the recipient of the Pro Patria Award and the 2008 Freedom Award.

Other appointments and awards for Chief Pyle include: Receiving the SBA Region VI Minority Small Business Advocate of the Year, several terms as a member on the National Indian Health Board and a year as the elected President of the Oklahoma Area Indian Health Board. He was appointed by former Secretary of Interior Manuel Lujan to serve on a Task Force created to reorganize the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and reappointed two years later by former Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt, heading up several subcommittees on the Task Force.

Congressional hearings during the past few years have featured the testimony of Chief Pyle on various subjects, including Code Talkers, sovereignty, Arkansas River Bed and health care.

Under the positive leadership of Chief Pyle, the Choctaw Nation has put families first, with priorities on education, health and jobs. Deep involvement in economic development has resulted in profitable tribal businesses such as gaming centers, manufacturing plants and travel plazas, creating numerous jobs and funding tribal programs.

Accomplishments as Chief of the Choctaw Nation have been numerous for Greg Pyle. Under his leadership, a new hospital has been constructed in Talihina, as well as the Diabetes Wellness Center, clinics in Stigler, McAlester, Atoka and Idabel, a new Hospitality House, new Recovery Center and a new Women’s Treatment Center. The Poteau Clinic has been expanded to include additional health care professionals and a mail-pharmacy refill center.

Since he has been Chief, Independent Living Communities for elderly have been constructed in six towns, several new community centers have been built and the older centers have received additional space and improvements. Four Child Development Centers have been built and tribal businesses have been created.

Education milestones include the Choctaw Language Program and increasing the scholarship program to serve 5,000 students. A new academic building has been built at Jones Academy for the elementary school. A career development program for Choctaws has been initiated to include training at technical institutes.

Chief Pyle’s dedication to the Choctaw people is evident through the many services that are now available.