In 1952, Earl Old Person was elected to the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council. He served on the Council for more than 60 years and served as Chairman for more than 50 years. Earl Old Person died Wednesday at the Blackfeet Community Hospital in Browning, Montana. He had a long battle with cancer. He was 92 years old.
According to the Tribal Facebook page:
“The Blackfeet People have suffered a huge loss today with the passing of Chief Old Person. A chapter in our history has come to a close. The Blackfeet Tribe offers prayers and support to the family of Earl at this time.”
Earl Old Person was the longest-serving elected official in the United States. During his time as an elected official, Old Person met many dignitaries, the tribe said, including every U.S. President since Dwight Eisenhower, the British Royal Family, the Shah of Iran, and other world leaders.
For more see the Daily Montanan article by Keith Schubert.