FROM THE ARCHIVE

Tribe honors big supporter

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MARCH 26, 2001

The Confederated Umatilla Tribes of Washington last week held a special ceremony for their first lawyer, dedicating March 19 "Charles Luce Day."

Known to members as "White Eagle," Luce became the tribe's lawyer after tribal leaders approached him in 1947. He went to work quickly, helping them renegotiate an unfair leasing agreement, reform their tribal government and constitution, and purse land claims and treaty rights.

Luce eventually became Undersecretary of the Interior under Secretary Stewart Udall. He soon left to become chief executive of Consolidated Edison, a position he held until 1982.

Luce now lives in New York. He returned to the reservation for speeches and a luncheon in Walla Walla.

Get the Story:
Tribes celebrate return of 'White Eagle' (The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin 3/26)