R.I.P. Leon Jones (former principal chief)

[blackcrowheart]

CHEROKEE — Leon Jones, former principal chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, died Friday at his home after a years-long battle with cancer. He was 69.

A veteran who served for two years in Vietnam, Jones held posts in all three branches of tribal government.

He was principal chief of the 13,000-member tribe from 1999 to 2003 and held a council seat before that. Jones also worked as a tribal court judge and was a school board chairman.

“He was a very soft-hearted person, and that’s unheard of in politics,” said Calvin Murphy, the tribe’s public works director under Jones. “He did the chief’s job, I believe, from his heart.”

Jones in his time as principal chief created a retirement program for employees, Murphy said.

He also was instrumental in getting a land deal with the federal government that will make room for an elementary, middle and high school.

“The thing he probably worked the hardest for was the youth,” said Ray Kinsland, a tribal employee for 48 years and manager of the Cherokee Boys Club.

The Eastern Band spent 32 years working to get the 143-acre, flat parcel of land known as the Ravensford tract, a part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Jones considered his work as chief to be his greatest accomplishment, said Myron Coulter, a longtime friend and chancellor of Western Carolina University from 1984 to 1994.

“He was passionate about his work,” Coulter said. “These are my people. He would say that so many times.”

Jones enlisted with the Marine Corps in 1954 and then in the Air Force in 1960, where he was a munitions officer. He was in Vietnam in 1967 and 1968.

The Jones family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Moody Funeral Home in Sylva. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Cherokee High School auditorium.

Survivors include his wife Janice and stepson Gary Wiggins.

The family planned to release a full obituary today.


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[blackcrowheart]

Leon Jones, former Cherokee chief, dies

By Derek Hodges
www.thesylvaherald.com/html/leon_jones__former_cherokee_ch.html

Leon Jones, who held several offices with the Eastern Band of
Cherokee Indians including principal chief, died Friday (Dec. 30) at
his home in Cherokee's Big Y community.

Jones, 69, battled illness, including cancer, for several years.
Throughout that time, however, he still played a leadership role in
the tribe, and was recently recognized for his contributions to the
tribe's emergency services. The Tribal EMS building, which was begun
during Jones' time as chief, was named for him during a ceremony in
July 2005.

Jones served as chief from 1999 to 2003, which was a period of
continuous progress for the tribe. In addition to his work with
Tribal EMS, Jones' tenure was also marked by:

• Completion of negotiations with the state on a 30-year tribal
gaming compact that sets forth the parameters for the tribe's casino
operation. "That compact ensures our people financial gains from the
gaming industry that have allowed us to improve our schools and run
our government," Jones told The Herald in July.

• A land swap with the National Park Service that secured the 143-
acre Ravensford tract for the tribe. The tribe's schools will be
located on that property. "That will have a lasting impact on this
tribe. The acquisition of that property is one of my proudest
accomplishments as chief," Jones said.

• The establishment of a retirement plan for tribal employees.

• Adoption of a hospital compact and securing $5 million each year
for the hospital. Jones led the tribe in taking over operations of
Cherokee Indian Hospital from the Indian Health Service.

Jones's achievements left a lasting impact on the tribe, current
Principal Chief Michell Hicks said.

"He was definitely an honorable man and his contributions to the
tribe will be long-serving for our members," said Hicks, who worked
directly with Jones for four years. "I learned a lot from him. I'm
very appreciative of the time I got to spend with him."

Jones, who was born and raised in Philadelphia, was the son of an
enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. While he
wasn't a native of Cherokee, he said his family always considered the
reservation home.

He served in the U.S. Marines and Air Force for 26 years, including
two tours in Vietnam. After retiring from the military, he moved to
Cherokee in January 1980 and became the first chief magistrate of the
tribal court.

After his term as magistrate; he worked for the U.S. Postal Service,
including two years as postmaster; managed Cherokee Tribal Bingo,
which is the world's largest bingo operation; and was a tribal
council member from Wolfetown from 1985-1987.

During a July 2005 interview with The Herald, Jones stressed the
importance of preserving the past of the Cherokee people, while
working to better the tribe's future. One way to do that is to build
stronger relationships with other governments, Jones said.

"I think (regional governmental bodies) should all get to know each
other better. We're all striving for the betterment of Western North
Carolina, not just what's good for the county or the tribe," he
said. "The way to do that is to work together to preserve our past
and live together in peace and harmony. We live in one of the most
beautiful parts of the world, and we need to protect it."

Funeral services for Jones were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3, in
the auditorium of Cherokee High School. Jones' body lay in state in
the auditorium for three hours prior to the service.