Overton James

Overton James (July 21, 1925 – September 16, 2015) was an educator and Governor of the Chickasaw Nation. After graduating from college, he taught school in Oklahoma. He was first appointed Governor in 1963 and served until 1971. He was then elected to that position and served until his last term ended in 1987. In 1985, he was alleged to have accepted illegal kickbacks for construction contracts within the Chickasaw Nation. He was indicted, pleaded guilty, and sentenced to a short prison term.

Early life Overton James was Governor of the Chickasaw Nation from 1963 to 1987. Born July 21, 1925 in Bromide, Oklahoma to Chickasaw parents, Rufus (Cub) James and Vinnie May Seely, he was raised in Wapanucka, Oklahoma. His Chickasaw name is .

After graduation from high school in Wapanucka, James spent two and a half years in the U.S. Navy. Then he returned to Oklahoma and enrolled in Southeastern State College (now Southeastern State University) in Durant, Oklahoma, where he earned a B. A. in Education in 1949. He spent the next ten years teaching school and coaching athletics in Ravia, Caddo, and Shattuck, Oklahoma. Meanwhile, he earned a Master's degree at Southeastern State College in 1955.

He was also important in the decision of the Chickasaw Nation to purchase the former Artesian Hotel, renaming it the Chickasaw Motor Inn and turning it into the first business owned and operated by the tribe. The business earned about $100,000 during its first year of operation. During his governorship, the number of Chickasaw employees rose from about 30 to about 200. Tribal revenues increased from about $750,000 to $11 million during his tenure.

Overton James was inducted into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame in 1987. James had been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of fraud and extortion in 1985. Overton James admitted that his company received the money and was sentenced to 9 months in a federal prison in January 1989.

Death James died, aged 90, on September 16, 2015.