February 20, 2020
By News Director Jared Atha
House Speaker Pro Tempore Harold Wright (R-Weatherford) and State Rep. Todd Russ (R-Cordell) honored Dr. Henrietta Mann on the floor of the House of Representatives recently for her work to preserve American Indian Culture. Wright and Russ are House authors of House Concurrent Resolution 1014, which commends Dr. Mann for her distinguished career in teaching Native American studies, furthering the educational opportunities for members of American Indian tribes and being a strong advocate for the preservation of American Indian culture. Senators Darcy Jech (R-Kingfisher) and Brent Howard (R-Altus) are Senate authors of the resolution.
The resolution notes that Dr. Mann, a member of the Cheyenne Tribe who grew up in Hammon, is a renowned scholar and academic leader who has championed the preservation of American Indian culture, traditions and language. A 1951 graduate of Hammon High School, Dr. Mann holds a bachelor’s degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, a master’s from Oklahoma State University and a doctorate in American studies from the University of New Mexico. Dr. Mann was the first Cheyenne woman to graduate from college who went on to have a distinguished academic career teaching Native American studies throughout the United States, according to the resolution. Dr. Mann held positions at the University of California, Harvard, the University of Montana and Montana State University. She also is noted as an early leader in promoting Native American studies and stressing the importance of preserving the cultures of American Indian tribes. Accordingly, she has received many awards and accolades for her work, including being named one of the country’s top ten professors by Rolling Stone Magazine in 1991.
