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A Seminole Life To Honor And Remember

To me, Billy Cypress was one of a kind.

He had so many interests and he took pleasure in so many things. In the movie “Auntie Mame,” Rosalind Russell proclaims “Life is a banquet, but most poor fools are starving”— how we fail to take advantage of the wonderful things life has to offer. Billy Cypress was one of the few people who didn’tneed to be reminded of this. His favorite song was “What a Wonderful World.” He told me a few years ago, “If something happens to me, be sure and tell everyone I really enjoyed my life.”

Billy was so wellread and had a great sense of humor. He might discuss world history one minute but tell a silly joke the next. (It would crack him up to check into a hotel and mistakenlyget the VIP room of Miccosukee Chairman Billy Cypress.) He was about as carefree a person as I’ve ever known. Only a few times did I ever see Billy let something bother him, so I knew it was serious when he was upset. He seemed to be in a hurry all the time, yet he didn’t often get in a hurry, really.

It was unbelievable to me when he passed on April 12, 2004. Billy had too much energy to leave usso soon, only 12 years after I started working for him at the old museum office in Hollywood in the “SPD” building, headquarters of the Seminole Department of Law Enforcement.

Travelin’ Man

During those 12 years, Billy and I worked together on so many different projects. But that's what made the museum work so interesting: you never knew what each day would bring. Sometimes Billy would ask me to go with him on his trips, “ in case I can’t go sometime, you can go for me.” Of course I never objected; traveling with Billy was always interesting, to say the least.

And how Billy loved to travel! I sometimes wonderedif his peripatetic urges came from his forebears, the collective unconscious of his “runaway” ancestors coursing through his body. Whatever city we were in, Billy loved to explore the surrounding area. He never liked to take the easy route; his short cuts often had us back around midnight. He would say ”Well Tom, let’s continue until we reach that little mountain over there.” “Uh, Billy, that little mountain is 80 miles away.”

And music! I’ve never known anyone with such eclectic taste in music. On our trips Billy was always the driver, navigator and radio operator— I was just along for the ride— and hefor the ride— and he would always bring music cassettes with him when traveling. He would stick in a cassette with one hand while “holding the road” with the other. A typical selection might be the drums of Black Lodge, followed by the accordions and washboards of Louisiana zydeco, then Hank Williams singing “ Kawliga,” followed by country gospel, then American Indian blues, finally ending with Elvis’ greatest hits. I didn’t always share Billy’staste in music, but I received quite a musical education on our trips.

Beatle's music was on our mind during a tourism show in London one year, and we couldn’t resist recreating the Abbey Road album cover. Billy went along with the idea, leading us across Abbey Road as John, with Paul, George and Ringo close behind.

Billy was certainly good-natured: he could take a joke as well as dish them out. One thing we used to joke about with Billy was how he seemed to attract animals. One dark night on Snake Road in Big Cypress, he hit a cow that had managed to get through a fence in search of greener pastures. Both the hapless cow and the SUV were totaled. On one beautiful drive from Albuquerque to Santa Fe, I saw my first prairie dog, and a second later—plunk! A few minutes later I saw my first prairie chicken, unfortunately headed for the road: "Look B—"… plunk!

I believe we’re inextricably linked to our past, and this certainly was the case when we went to Miami to get our passports for the trip to Berlin several years ago. Billy was born September 13, 1942, in a chickee at Royal Palm Hammock, along Tamiami Trail. His dear mother Ruby named him Larry Jumper, and this is the name the social worker put on the birth certificate. A few days later Ruby decided Billy Larry Cypress was a more appropriate name. So I couldn’t help but laugh when Billy showed the confused passport officer a birth certificate for Larry Jumper and a driver’s license with a totally different name. Needless to say, Billy Larry Cypress had to gather a shoulder bag full of documents before returning to Miami to prove who he was.

In addition to his family, Billy’s legacy is Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum. In typical Billy style, it took a while to build— he was appointed Executive Director of the Seminole Tribal Museum Authority in 1989—but what a wonderful cultural facility opened inAugust, 1997! With his interest in history and culture, I know Billy was proud of what he and the tribe had accomplished. “It is a fabulous facility, one of a kind" and "What a great place, I loved it!"are typical of the many kind notes and comments Billy received since the opening.

Billy loved to read, so education was a natural for him. (Former Chairman James Billie said that even as a kid, Billy would always have a comic book in his back pocket.) After graduating from McArthur High School as “Most Likely to Succeed,” he received a fullscholarship to Stetson University in Deland, Florida. Four years later, in 1965, he became the first Florida Seminole to obtain a four-year college degree. That same year he received the SeniorService Award from Omicron Delta Kappa. (In 2000, Billy would be honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Stetson University.) During summer breaks from Stetson, Billy worked compiling Seminole legends and customs, a precursor to his work at Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum.

Billy went on to earn a master of arts at Arizona State University, and only lacked a dissertation forhis doctorate at Penn State. He was a Headstart teacher for the tribe in 1965, and an English teacher atDriftwood Middle School from 1968 to 1971. For 18 years beginning in 1971, he was an Education Officer, then Education Specialist, for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Billy had a love of learning, and he would convey his knowledge to whoever was interested. He contributed to various Native American books and magazines. “TheRole of Archaeology in the Seminole Tribe of Florida” appeared in Americans and Archaeologists, 1997 and he contributed to Anthropologists and Indians in the New South, 2001.

Advise and Consent

Billy was involved with numerous American Indian organizations throughout the country. One of the most prestigious appointments was as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, in 1994. In the letter from Norbert Hill, Jr., former Chairman, he stated: “Your experience, knowledge and dedication to American Indian people were key factors in your selection. I am confident that you will make an important contribution to help achieve our goal of creatinga museum to celebrate and honor Indians of the Americas.”

Billy served a second term on the NMAI board and was on the subcommittee for repatriation. He was also an advisor on the Seminole exhibit at the museum, which will open September 2004 . Carol Cypress, Sonny Billie, Mary Francis Johns, Ronnie Jimmie, Jimmy O’Toole Osceola were among the other tribal members that helped with the exhibit.

Billy worked with Dr. William C. Sturtevant of the Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural History on various translation projects. He was also involved with the “Dual Labeling” exhibit, whereby Little Tigertail and Louise Tigertail gave the Seminole interpretation of various clothing and artifacts, to go along with the non-Seminole view of the objects.

Within the Seminole Tribe, Billy was on the Board of Directors of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Inc., 1981-1983, and was a member of the Seminole Gaming Commission. Billywas tribal coordinator for NAGPRA, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. Headministered the Tribal Historic Preservation Office, involved with preserving cultural sites on the Seminole reservations.He had so many unofficial titles within the tribe — I’ve heard people refer to Billy as the tribal historian and tribal cultural director — that in many ways he was the good will ambassador for the Seminole Tribe.

Based on our many discussions about social issues and politics, Billy seemed a little left of center. But although he hadmisgivings about war, he was proud to be a veteran and enjoyed taking part in the Seminole color guard during the tribal fair and other important events. Billy had served as a combat platoon leader from 1966 to 1968 in the Army in South Korea and at Ft. McClellan, Alabama, and then the Army reserves. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Reserve Achievement Medal. He continued in the Army reserves until 1982 and attained the rank of Major.

Lust for Life

Over the years Billy and I became more like friends than boss/employee, but we continued to share a mutual respect. I tried to do whatever Billy asked of me, but I would let him know if I disagreed with something. A few times when I really disagreed, I put my argument in writing, but Billy and I both knew who had the final word. As well as we got along, it was ironic that Billy was a little perturbed with me in our last conversation. He had asked me from his hospital bed to do something that I thought might open a can of worms. A week later when I talked to him at the hospital, he was pretty upset that I had put off the unpleasant task: “ When I tell you to do something I mean for you to do it.” The disagreeable assignment was taken care of within the hour.

Billy had a big heart, and an energy and joie de vivre that were catching; he had endeared himself with so many people across the country. I’m sure this is why many called the week of his passing, some crying, in disbelief that he was gone. Brent Weisman, president of the Seminole Wars Historic Foundation sent a letter on behalf of the foundation: “ Billy was not only a valued member of the Seminole Wars Historic Foundation, he was also our friend.” Bob McNeil, senior curator at the Museum of Florida History wrote: “Billy was loved, admired, and trusted by all who knew him in Tallahassee. He always proved to be a wise and trusted advisor on many projects involving the Seminole and Miccosukee people.“

The honors for Billy continue. On April 21, 2004, Pinellas County, Florida, issued a proclamation that said in part, “Whereas, he will be fondly remembered for his dedication to the Tribe, his benevolent manner, and his determination to save and preserve the traditional cultures of the Seminole and Miccosukee Indians.”

During Memorial Day weekend, Billy and his family were honored at the Freedom Day Remembrance ceremony in LaBelle, Florida. The tribe has established a scholarship in his honor. And this September, Billy will be honored at the American Indian Tourism Conference in Green Bay, Wisconsin, for his dedication to American Indian tourism.

Billy Cypress wasn’t Abiaka or Coacoochee or Osceola, but I believe he had traits of all three— the wisdom of Abiaka, the energy and playfulness of Coacoochee, and the determination of Osceola. Like Osceola, Billy wasn’t a chief, but like Osceola he was still very important to the success of his people. I believe he will be remembered for years to come as one of the most important Seminoles of his era.

If we could all enjoy life every day like Billy did— what a wonderful world indeed!

Tom Gallaher
Development and Promotions Coordinator
May 25, 2004