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Chief Harry James “Jimmy” Watson Belvin

Durant Daily Democrat, Durant, OK; Issue: 21 Sep 1986
Transcribed by April (Wharton) Makerney

Harry James (Jimmy) Watson Belvin, 85, Durant, longtime principal Chief of the Choctaw Nation and former state legislator, died Friday at Bryan Memorial Hospital.

Service is set for 2 p.m. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church and the Rev. Ross Kirven officiating. Burial will be in the Highland Cemetery.

Choctaw Nation offices across a 10 ½ county area will be closed from noon Monday until Tuesday morning in honor of the former Chief.

In addition, the Choctaw Nation established the Harry J. Belvin Scholarship Fund, which will go to graduating high school Indian students each year. Durant Band and Trust will be trustee of the fund and contributions are now being taken.

Belvin was born in Boswell (Indian Territory) on Dec. 11, 1900. He married the former Lucille Brightwell on Dec. 21, 1922 in Boswell. She survives him.

He received a bachelor’s degree from Southeastern and his master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma. Belvin served as a classroom teacher in Bryan and Choctaw counties from 1923 until 1939. He was county superintendent of public instruction in Bryan County from 1941 until 1952.

Belvin became principal Chief of the Choctaw Nation in 1948 and remained in that capacity for 27 years.

He was Bryan County’s state representative from 1954 until 1960 and the state senator from 1960 until 1964.

Belvin was a member of Durant’s First Presbyterian Church where he served on the bench of elders. In addition, he was a member of Phi Delta Kappa, Kappa Delta Pi and the Boule Scholarship Fraternity.

He was also a member of the Durant chapter of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Choctaw-Chickasaw Confederation of Oklahoma (of which he is a past president) and the National Congress of American Indians.

The former chief was quoted frequently in Indians in American Life, Indians of Today, and the Encyclopedia of American Indians. A member of the Tulsa Indian Democratic Club, he served on the Oklahoma City Indian Health Service Advisory Board and the Surgeon General’s Advisory Board on Indian Health (from 1968 until 1972).

He was also a member of the Association of American Indian Affairs, 10 Choctaw councils throughout the Old Choctaw Nation, Itanaha Indian Club (of which he had served as secretary) and the Inter-tribal Council of Five Civilized Tribes.
Belvin was named the “Outstanding Indian of Oklahoma” by the Tulsa Indian Democratic Club in 1957. In 1959, he was honored as the “Outstanding American Indian” at the Anadarko Indian Exposition.

Survivors include his wife, Lucille, of the home; a daughter, Louise Frazier, Hurst, Texas; a brother, Dr. B. Franklin Belvin, Okmulgee; three grandchildren, Robert H. Frazier, Houston; Nancy Boatright, Durant; and Carrie Brendel, Clearwater, Fla.

Bearers for Monday’s service will be Ray Julian, Gay Self, Calvin Beames, Lon Kyles, Donald Moon, and Harry Caudell.