Joe Grayson, Jr.
Candidate for Deputy Principal Chief
813 Sasha Lane
Tahlequah, Oklahoma 74464
(9l8) 456-4878
Coowee@earthlink.net
www.joegrayson.com Joe Grayson, Jr., a full-blood Cherokee, is the grandson of Anna (Bird) and Price Robin and Mary (Davis) and Napoleon Grayson and the son of Charlotte (Robin) and Joe Grayson, Sr. who was a full-blood bilingual ordained Baptist Minister who also served as a Cherokee Community Representative in the l960’s and early l970’s. Joe Sr. was elected to the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council in l987 and served one four year term. Joe Grayson, Jr., was born and raised in Cherokee County where he and his wife Gwen make their home. Gwen and Joe have both been actively involved in community service, volunteering for a number of organizations, including Help-In-Crisis and the Cherokee Heritage Center. Gwen was elected to the Tahlequah School Board, serving for a time as Chair. Together they have five children, Joe III, Grant, Aaron, Stuart and Mary-Charlotte. Some of the children have inherited their parents’ interest in service to others and are involved in a variety of Cherokee cultural and social activities as well as their family church, St. Basil’s Episcopal Church in Tahlequah. "Family is important to me. I have five children, fifteen nieces and nephews and dozens of young cousins. I want to be part of making the future a secure one for younger Cherokees by doing everything in our power to make sure they have a good education and become healthy, successful adults." Grayson is knowledgeable about Cherokee culture and regularly participates in Cherokee cultural activities. He has also co-chaired the Cherokee National Holiday, the Tahlequah Public Schools Indian Parent Committee, and served as Chairman of the Cherokee United Way. He currently serves on the Cherokee Nation Tax Commission, but has resigned effective today, January 15 to run for the office of Deputy Principal Chief. "I have been fortunate enough to be able to always provide for my family with little assistance from the Cherokee Nation. I want to be able to help not only the Cherokee families in greatest need but also help those working families that need just a little assistance to meet an occasional challenge." Grayson is a highly decorated veteran, having served his country in the United States Army, 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge and a member of the American Legion Post #50. His son Stuart, now a student at Northeastern State University, served in the United States Marines and was honorably discharged. Grayson learned to hunt from his father and is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hunting deer and squirrel, as well as fishing. Most of his professional life has been spent as a plumbing contractor; with the last l8 years spent working for Hastings Hospital in Tahlequah. "My large extended family asked me to seek the office of Deputy Principal Chief and made a commitment to be actively involved in my campaign. With such strong, enthusiastic family support, I feel I am doing the right thing by entering this campaign." "I strongly believe the majority of Cherokee people want a Principal Chief, Deputy Chief and Tribal Council with a common vision of the future. We don’t always have to agree but we should always conduct ourselves in a respectful way when we disagree with one another. I intend to do that." "There is no greater honor than being elected by your own people. If the Cherokee people elect me, I will always conduct myself with integrity and in a manner that will honor the position of Deputy Principal Chief." | 
