[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 61 (Wednesday, April 28, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S2756]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       REMEMBERING KEELER CONDON

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize Keeler 
Bud Condon, former councilman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in 
South Dakota. Keeler passed away on March 30, 2010. The community of 
Cherry Creek, SD, and all of the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation lost 
a great leader and friend.
  Keeler's Lakota name, Iktomi Kuwapi, is translated as ``Cannot Be 
Fooled.'' He was born on May 5, 1941, in Porcupine, SD, on the Pine 
Ridge Reservation, and he spent his childhood years there. Keeler 
attended a number of tribal schools before graduating from Cheyenne-
Eagle Butte High School in 1961.
  One of Keeler's greatest joys was sports. He was an avid sports fan 
and athlete; in 1959, his basketball team won the South Dakota State 
``B'' Championship. After high school, he played with the All American 
Indian Semi-Pro team. Illustrating his enduring commitment to 
community, he maintained contact throughout his life with his high 
school basketball coach, Gus Kolb. Keeler worked for many years as a 
certified building and trades professional and also served as a bus 
driver for the Takini School before he was elected to the Cheyenne 
River Tribal Council in 2002. He served a 4-year term.
  In 2003, I met Keeler when he hosted me and former Indian Health 
Service Director Dr. Charles Grim in Cherry Creek. We joined him for a 
tour and pow-wow. I remember well his constant advocacy for better 
health care and an improved quality of life for tribal communities. 
After Keeler retired from the Tribal Council, he continued to be a 
consistent presence at Tribal Headquarters in Eagle Butte. He would 
take the time to visit with many tribal members and provide guidance to 
the elected leaders.
  I am sure that Keeler's entire family, including his wife Frieda, 
four children, and two stepchildren are very proud of his 
accomplishments, as they ought to be. Strong leaders are central to the 
well-being of tribal communities, and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe 
certainly benefited from Keeler's contributions.

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