The tribal chairman of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe died on Monday.
Jimmy R. Newton Jr. died from an undisclosed illness at Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango, Colo.
"He dedicated his career to helping his fellow tribal council and all enrolled members of the tribe," vice chairman James Olguin said. "His passing leaves us without our veteran leader and with a huge hole in the heart of all who worked with or knew him."
Newton, 37, was elected chairman in 2011. He was the youngest man to serve in the position.
Newton's political career started when he was 26.
He served as a member of the Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council and then as vice chairman. The tribal council twice appointed him acting chairman.
Newton advocated for the tribe, as well as for the Ute Mountain Ute and Northern Ute tribes, when he traveled to Washington D.C. because he understood tribal nations need support from the federal government.
Both Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly and Navajo Nation Council Speaker Johnny Naize expressed condolences on behalf of the Navajo Nation.
"We are saddened by the loss of such a young and accomplished tribal leader," Shelly said. "We will keep his wife, daughter and family in our prayers."
Naize said Newton served his people with great dignity and respect.
"It is always difficult to accept the loss of a great leader," Naize said. "His words of wisdom, his accomplishments, and his teachings will never be forgotten."
In a July 2013 interview with the National Museum of the American Indian, Newton talked about how his experiences prepared him to lead the tribe.
"Looking back at my life experience, I've always tried to be strong person and always knowing who I am as a Ute man," he said.
Newton earned a degree in visual graphic design from Al Collins Graphic Design School in Phoenix.
Prior to his political service, he worked as a reporter and photographer for the tribe's newspaper, The Southern Ute Drum.
He is survived by his wife, Flora Murphy Newton, and his daughter, Maylon Newton.
Jimmy R. Newton Jr. died from an undisclosed illness at Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango, Colo.
"He dedicated his career to helping his fellow tribal council and all enrolled members of the tribe," vice chairman James Olguin said. "His passing leaves us without our veteran leader and with a huge hole in the heart of all who worked with or knew him."
Newton, 37, was elected chairman in 2011. He was the youngest man to serve in the position.
Newton's political career started when he was 26.
He served as a member of the Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council and then as vice chairman. The tribal council twice appointed him acting chairman.
Newton advocated for the tribe, as well as for the Ute Mountain Ute and Northern Ute tribes, when he traveled to Washington D.C. because he understood tribal nations need support from the federal government.
Both Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly and Navajo Nation Council Speaker Johnny Naize expressed condolences on behalf of the Navajo Nation.
"We are saddened by the loss of such a young and accomplished tribal leader," Shelly said. "We will keep his wife, daughter and family in our prayers."
Naize said Newton served his people with great dignity and respect.
"It is always difficult to accept the loss of a great leader," Naize said. "His words of wisdom, his accomplishments, and his teachings will never be forgotten."
In a July 2013 interview with the National Museum of the American Indian, Newton talked about how his experiences prepared him to lead the tribe.
"Looking back at my life experience, I've always tried to be strong person and always knowing who I am as a Ute man," he said.
Newton earned a degree in visual graphic design from Al Collins Graphic Design School in Phoenix.
Prior to his political service, he worked as a reporter and photographer for the tribe's newspaper, The Southern Ute Drum.
He is survived by his wife, Flora Murphy Newton, and his daughter, Maylon Newton.
The tribal chairman of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe died on Monday.
Jimmy R. Newton Jr. died from an undisclosed illness at Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango, Colo.
"He dedicated his career to helping his fellow tribal council and all enrolled members of the tribe," vice chairman James Olguin said. "His passing leaves us without our veteran leader and with a huge hole in the heart of all who worked with or knew him."
Newton, 37, was elected chairman in 2011. He was the youngest man to serve in the position.
Newton's political career started when he was 26.
He served as a member of the Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council and then as vice chairman. The tribal council twice appointed him acting chairman.
Newton advocated for the tribe, as well as for the Ute Mountain Ute and Northern Ute tribes, when he traveled to Washington D.C. because he understood tribal nations need support from the federal government.
Both Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly and Navajo Nation Council Speaker Johnny Naize expressed condolences on behalf of the Navajo Nation.
"We are saddened by the loss of such a young and accomplished tribal leader," Shelly said. "We will keep his wife, daughter and family in our prayers."
Naize said Newton served his people with great dignity and respect.
"It is always difficult to accept the loss of a great leader," Naize said. "His words of wisdom, his accomplishments, and his teachings will never be forgotten."
In a July 2013 interview with the National Museum of the American Indian, Newton talked about how his experiences prepared him to lead the tribe.
"Looking back at my life experience, I've always tried to be strong person and always knowing who I am as a Ute man," he said.
Newton earned a degree in visual graphic design from Al Collins Graphic Design School in Phoenix.
Prior to his political service, he worked as a reporter and photographer for the tribe's newspaper, The Southern Ute Drum.
He is survived by his wife, Flora Murphy Newton, and his daughter, Maylon Newton.
Jimmy R. Newton Jr. died from an undisclosed illness at Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango, Colo.
"He dedicated his career to helping his fellow tribal council and all enrolled members of the tribe," vice chairman James Olguin said. "His passing leaves us without our veteran leader and with a huge hole in the heart of all who worked with or knew him."
Newton, 37, was elected chairman in 2011. He was the youngest man to serve in the position.
Newton's political career started when he was 26.
He served as a member of the Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council and then as vice chairman. The tribal council twice appointed him acting chairman.
Newton advocated for the tribe, as well as for the Ute Mountain Ute and Northern Ute tribes, when he traveled to Washington D.C. because he understood tribal nations need support from the federal government.
Both Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly and Navajo Nation Council Speaker Johnny Naize expressed condolences on behalf of the Navajo Nation.
"We are saddened by the loss of such a young and accomplished tribal leader," Shelly said. "We will keep his wife, daughter and family in our prayers."
Naize said Newton served his people with great dignity and respect.
"It is always difficult to accept the loss of a great leader," Naize said. "His words of wisdom, his accomplishments, and his teachings will never be forgotten."
In a July 2013 interview with the National Museum of the American Indian, Newton talked about how his experiences prepared him to lead the tribe.
"Looking back at my life experience, I've always tried to be strong person and always knowing who I am as a Ute man," he said.
Newton earned a degree in visual graphic design from Al Collins Graphic Design School in Phoenix.
Prior to his political service, he worked as a reporter and photographer for the tribe's newspaper, The Southern Ute Drum.
He is survived by his wife, Flora Murphy Newton, and his daughter, Maylon Newton.
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