Charles Tillman Sr.

Charles Owen Chap Tillman Sr., Red Rock resident, passed away on Friday, September 24, 2010 at his home. He was 94.

Charles was born on April 21, 1916 in Red Rock, Oklahoma the son of Asbarry Tillman and Bertha Arkeketa Tillman. Chap went to school at Red Rock until the 11th grade. He later went Haskell Institute, an Indian boarding school in Lawrence, Kansas. Chap played sports at Haskell and played basketball and baseball on the varsity college teams. He graduated salutatorian in 1934 and was offered two scholarships, one to Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire and Northeastern State College in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. He chose Northeastern. After one year at Northeastern he had an offer to continue his education at Central College in Edmond with tuition, room and board paid. He accepted and transferred to Central his second year. He married Josephine Good and in 1941, the marriage ended and he married Ella Koshiway Morrell and they moved to the old homestead east of Red Rock where Chap farmed. He continued his education at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. He received a Bachelor Degree, Master Degree and completed all the course work toward a Ph.D. Degree. He was hired as Principal of Red Rock School, with additional duties of teacher and coach of the boys and girls high school basketball team. Chap held numerous positions of employment. He was Superintendent of Orlando High School, Braman High School, Oologah High School, Concho Indian School and Carter Seminary. He served numerous times on the OtoeMissouria Tribal Council and he was elected first tribal chairman after the OtoeMissouria Constitution was adopted in 1984, the constitution which he helped to write. He served several terms as Chairman and ViceChairman, being elected or appointed each time. Chap had succeeded in both the white mans world and his Indian World. His success in the white mans world is all the more remarkable as it was in a period of time when Indians were discriminated against and given very little opportunity to succeed.

Casket bearers for the service will be Stephen Tillman, Timothy Mays, Eli Lauffenburger, Kyle Robedeaux, Charles Kihega and Michael Darnaby. Honorary bearers will be Steve Dummer, Dewey Daily and Harold Kihega.

He is survived by his children, Charles Tillman Jr., of Fairfax, Oklahoma, Nancy Kyle of Fairfax, Oklahoma, Owen Tillman of Red Rock, Oklahoma, Diane Tillman of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Angela Lauffenburger of Plano, Texas and Stephen Tillman of Yukon, Oklahoma numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Bertha Arkeketa Tillman Carson and father, Asbarry Tillman son, Rodney Tillman daughter, Denise Tillman and sister, Ophelia Tillman Overby.

There will be a traditional noon meal before the funeral service. Alberta Blondie Atkins will be in charge of the services. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, September 27, 2010 at the Otoe Baptist Church in Red Rock, Oklahoma with Rev. Jimmy Kinnard officiating. Burial will follow at the Red Rock Cemetery under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.