Larry J. Echo Hawk(born August 2, 1948) is an Americanattorney,legal scholar, and politician. A member of theDemocratic Party,Echo Hawk served underU.S. PresidentBarack Obamaas theUnited States Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairsfrom 2009 to 2012.[1]He previously served as theAttorney General of Idahofrom 1991 to 1995, the first Native American elected to the position,[2]and spent two terms in theIdaho House of Representatives.In 2012, he wascalledas ageneral authorityofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints(LDS Church).[3]As of 2022, Echo Hawk is the last Democrat to have served as Attorney General of Idaho.
Larry Echo Hawk | |
|---|---|
 Echo Hawk in 2009 | |
| 11thAssistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs | |
| In office May 22, 2009 – April 27, 2012 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Carl Artman |
| Succeeded by | Del Laverdure(acting) |
| 30thAttorney General of Idaho | |
| In office January 7, 1991 – January 2, 1995 | |
| Governor | Cecil Andrus |
| Preceded by | Jim Jones |
| Succeeded by | Al Lance |
| Member of theIdaho House of Representatives from theBannock Countydistrict | |
| In office 1982–1986 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 2, 1948 Cody,Wyoming,U.S. |
| Nationality | American Pawnee Nation |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Terry Echo Hawk |
| Children | 6 |
| Education | Brigham Young University(BS) University of Utah(JD) Stanford University(MBA) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  United States Marine Corps |
Early life and education
editEcho Hawk was born into the federally-recognizedPawnee NationinCody, Wyoming,in 1948 to Ernest and Emma Jane Echo Hawk, where his father worked with the oil and gas industry. He is enrolled as a member of the tribe, whose reservation is in Oklahoma. Before Echo Hawk started first grade, his family moved toFarmington, New Mexico.His family joined the LDS Church when he was 14.[4]
Echo Hawk attendedBrigham Young Universityon afootballscholarship.[5]After earning a degree in physical education and zoology, Echo Hawk served for two years in theUnited States Marine Corps.
He earned aJuris Doctorin 1973 from theUniversity of Utah.He then earned aMaster of Business Administrationfrom theStanford Graduate School of Business.[6]
Career
editEcho Hawk began his legal career working with California Indian Legal Services. In 1975, he started his own law practice inSalt Lake City, Utah.[4]In 1977, he became general legal counsel for theFort Hall, Idaho-based Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. He also served as a special prosecutor for theNavajo Nationin 1985.
He later settled in Idaho, becoming active in theDemocratic Party.In 1982 Echo Hawk was elected to a seat in theIdaho House of RepresentativesfromBannock County,where he served two terms. He was later elected Bannock County prosecuting attorney in 1986.[7]Echo Hawk was elected Attorney General of Idaho in 1990, the first Native American elected to this position in Idaho.[2]
Echo Hawk served as national co-chair for Native Americans for theBill Clinton 1992 presidential campaign.He was a principal speaker at that year'sDemocratic National Conventionand led the Idaho delegation as chair at the convention.
In 1994 Echo Hawk announced his candidacy to succeed fellow DemocratCecil D. Andrus,who was retiring as Governor of Idaho. Echo Hawk decisively defeated former state senatorRon Beitelspacherand an unknown candidate in the Democratic primary, fueling speculation that he could be the nation's first Native American governor. But, he was defeated in the general election by theRepublicancandidate, formerLieutenant GovernorPhil Batt.Echo Hawk has not been a candidate for public office since.
Shortly after the 1994 election defeat, Echo Hawk accepted a faculty position at BYU'sJ. Reuben Clark Law Schooland returned to Utah. In that capacity he taught courses in criminal law, criminal procedure and federal Indian law. He has also published several scholarly papers.
Echo Hawk is admitted to the bar inIdaho,UtahandCalifornia.
Native American issues
editEcho Hawk has served on the American Indian Services National Advisory Board and Board of Trustees. He was appointed by President Bill Clinton to the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice, a leading group on justice policy development.[8]He has also served on the board of the American Indian Community Resource Center.[9]John Echo Hawk,director of theNative American Rights Fund,is his brother.
Echo Hawk was appointed by President Obama as the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs in 2009. During his tenure, the government increased the amount of land held in trust for federally recognized Native American tribes by 158,000 acres, supporting their efforts to be self-supportive and to reconnect fragmented reservations. He also oversaw several water agreements made with Native American tribes. He directed implementation of theTribal Law and Order Act.[6]While leading Indian Affairs, he oversaw the formation of the Tribal Leadership Conference, which provides for an annual meeting between leaders or other representatives of the 566 federally recognized tribes, the U.S. president and all members of theCabinet.[10]He resigned his position at Interior on April 27, 2012.[11]
In February 2019, Echo Hawk joined the administration of Utah governorGary Herbertas special counsel on Native American affairs.[12]
LDS Church service
edit| Larry J. Echo Hawk | |
|---|---|
| First Quorum of the Seventy | |
| March 31, 2012– October 6, 2018 | |
| Called by | Thomas S. Monson |
| End reason | DesignatedemeritusGeneral Authority |
| EmeritusGeneral Authority | |
| October 6, 2018 | |
| Called by | Russell M. Nelson |
In the LDS Church, Echo Hawk has served aspresidentof a studentstakeon the BYU campus, abishop,andhigh councilor.
At the time he was elected State Attorney General in Idaho, he was serving as a member of the board of trustees ofLDS Social Services.[13]
He wasacceptedby church membership as a general authority and member of theFirst Quorum of the Seventyon March 31, 2012. During his first year as a general authority he made multiple trips throughout the southwest US, often meeting with groups of Latter-day Saint Native Americans.[14]From 2013 to 2015, Echo Hawk served as second counselor in the presidency of the church's PhilippinesArea.[15][16]From 2015 to 2018, Echo Hawk served as an assistant executive director of the church's Correlation Department.[17]He was also a member of the LDS Church's Boundary and Leadership Change Committee.[18]On October 6, 2018, Echo Hawk was released and designated an emeritus general authority.[19]
Personal life
editHe later baptized Teresa "Terry" Pries, whom he had been dating for several years. In 1968, their marriage in theSalt Lake Templewas performed bySpencer W. Kimball,then a member of theQuorum of the Twelve Apostles.The couple have had six children together.[4]
References
edit- ^Ling, Katherine (May 20, 2009),"Senate confirms 3 nominees for DOE, 1 for Interior",The New York Times,retrievedMarch 31,2012
- ^ab"Profile: Larry Echo Hawk"Archived2012-08-05 at theWayback Machine,Department of the Interior Profile
- ^"Elder Larry J. Echo Hawk".
- ^abcWrigley, Heather Whittle (April 14, 2012),"Elder Larry Echo Hawk: 'Lifting people' a lifelong choice",Church News
- ^Larry EchoHawk Athlete Profile | The Official Site of BYU Athletics.(accessed 18 October 2013)
- ^ab"Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk to Conclude Successful Tenure at Interior",Press Release,US Department of the Interior,April 9, 2012.
- ^"Biographical Statement of Larry Echo Hawk Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs U.S. Department of the Interior"(PDF).RetrievedMay 30,2016.
- ^U.S. House hearing bio of Echo Hawk
- ^"Department of Interior bio of Echo Hawk".Archived fromthe originalon August 5, 2012.RetrievedApril 3,2012.
- ^"Dennis Romboy" New Mormon Leader Echo Hawk Fostered New Era in U.S., Tribal Relations ",Deseret News,April 10, 2012, archived fromthe originalon April 13, 2012
- ^"Echo Hawk Sets Resignation Date For April 27",Indian Country Today Media Network,April 9, 2012, archived fromthe originalon October 21, 2013,retrievedApril 13,2012
- ^Salt Lake Tribunearticle on Echo Hawk's appointment
- ^"Idaho attorney general is living example of 'American dream'",Church News,August 3, 1991
- ^Navajo Timesarticle on Echo Hawk
- ^Church News,May 25, 2013.
- ^"LDS First Presidency announces area leadership assignments",Church News,2 May 2015.
- ^Weaver, Sarah Jane (December 29, 2015)."'A heavenly pattern' participating in family, Church councils ".Deseret News.Archived fromthe originalon January 1, 2017.
- ^LDS Church profile on Echo Hawk
- ^"Leadership Changes Announced at October 2018 General Conference: Seven General Authority Seventies released",Newsroom,LDS Church,October 6, 2018
External links
edit- General Authorities and General Officers: Elder Larry Echo Hawk
- "Profile: Larry Echo Hawk",Department of the Interior Profile
- Echo Hawk Law Offices
- Larry Jack Echo Hawk Papers, MSS 8050atL. Tom Perry Special Collections,Brigham Young University
- AppearancesonC-SPAN