Political Quotes

“I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Mr. Richard ``Rick'' Graham Hill, revered leader of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, whose tireless work on behalf of all Native peoples will be honored, admired, and emulated for generations to come. Rick's work and accomplishments throughout his lifelong dedication to Tribal service were as dynamic as Rick himself. Grandson of Dr. Lillie Rosa Minoka-Hill--only the second indigenous female doctor in America-- Rick was destined to live an exceptional life. Early on, Rick proved to be an elite athlete, earning the title of West De Pere High School Athlete of the Year in 1971. In keeping with Wisconsin tradition, his favorite sport was football. He would later serve as executive producer of a film still in production, entitled ``Bright Path: The Story of Jim Thorpe,'' honoring the NFL Hall-of- Famer and America's first Native athlete to win an Olympic Gold Medal. His natural strength and enduring achievements in athletic competition were precursors to the successes that would eventually define his true legacy: his tireless, unbeatable, loving dedication to the advancement of Native communities. At age 23, influenced by his time spent attending Tribal meetings with his father, Rick became the youngest person to serve on Oneida's Tribal Council. He would serve two terms as chairman of the Oneida Nation, from 1990 to 1993 and from 2008 to 2011.…”