Deputy Principal Chief Joe Grayson , Jr. Deputy Principal Chief 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 1960's and early 1970's. Joe, Sr. was also elected to the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council in 1987 and served one four-year term. Joe Grayson , Jr. is a highly decorated veteran, having served his country in the United States Army, 4 th Infantry Division in Vietnam . He is a member of the Masonic Lodge and a member of the American Legion Post #50. Most of his professional life has been spent as a plumbing contractor, with the last 18 years spent working for W.W Hastings Hospital in Tahlequah. 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 . In 2005, he was elected National Congress of American Indians Vice President for Eastern Oklahoma . 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 . Together they have five children, Joe III, Grant, Aaron, Stuart and Mary-Charlotte. His special initiatives during his term as Deputy Principal Chief include: Instituted the Cherokee National Medal of Patriotism. Initiated the construction and establishment of a Cherokee Warrior Memorial and expanded services to native veterans. Supported and expanded community based self help construction for housing, community buildings and utilities. Launched the Cherokee National Park System. Installed community groups to protect and restore historic sites and buildings. Initiated and supported expanded services for scholarship and training in vocational education and construction trades | 
