In Memoriam
Richard E. Fitzgerald
Sequoyah Employee
Richard E. Fitzgerald (Seq-Prinipal 1955-56) , 82, retired Indian educator and member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, died Saturday, July 17th 1993. As a teacher, administrator and Choctaw role model, Fitzgerald enriched the lives of thousands. Mr. Fitzgerald was a 32 degree Mason and was on the Tulsa Mayor's Committee for Human Rights many years.
HE was a Choctaw delegate of the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes until 1922. He was instrumental in rewriting the current Choctaw Nation Constitution. He was also a past Board Member of Goodland Academy in Hugo, Oklahoma.
Mr. Fitzgerald received his Masters Degree in Education from the University of Oklahoma. Mr. Fitzgerald attended school at Jones academy and Goodland and continued his education to receive a state teachers' certificate.
He was appointed Principal of Sardis School, and later High School Principal at Soper and then Principal of Goodland.
Mr. Fitzgerald also worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs as Principal of Seneca Indian School in Wyandotte and also of Sequoyah Indian School . In 1956, he was promoted to Superintendent of Seneca, where he stayed until retirement.
Mr. Fitzgerald is survived by one son, Richard D. Fitzgerald and his wife, Carole, of Garland, Texas. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, July 20 at 10:00 a.m. at the Butler-Stumpff Funeral Home Chapel in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
A graveside memorial service was conducted at Sardis the afternoon of July 20 at 4:00 p.m. before burial.