[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 206 (Thursday, December 19, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1636-E1637]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO RICHARD ``RICK'' GRAHAM HILL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 19, 2019

  Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the life of 
Richard ``Rick'' Graham Hill of Oneida, Wisconsin. Rick was born on 
January 6, 1953, in Detroit, Michigan, and lived a life filled with 
love and compassion for both his community and nation. He was a 
politician, innovator, entrepreneur and leader.
  Rick descended from a family committed to public service. His 
grandmother, Dr. L. Rosa Minoka Hill, was the second American Indian 
woman doctor in the nation, and his mother was a registered nurse. He 
began following in the footsteps of his family at a young age, often 
accompanying his father to tribal meetings, which cultivated him into 
the leader he eventually became.
  Rick went go on to be a long-serving councilman and vice-chairman of 
the Oneida Nation, and served two non-consecutive terms as the nation's 
chairman. During his first term, he also served simultaneously as 
chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA), representing 
and advocating for 168 federally-recognized tribes in the gaming 
industry. Under his leadership, NIGA became a nationally-recognized 
voice on Indian gaming issues, and successfully initiated the 
development of national regulatory standards and policies for tribal 
governmental gaming. As chairman of the Oneida Nation, Rick signed the 
first gaming compact with the state of Wisconsin. Even after 
retirement, Rick continued his service by forming Hill Group, LLC. 
There he consulted with various stakeholders to identify economic 
development projects and partnerships in Indian Country. He also formed 
RGH Holdings the first ever consortium of tribes to invest in real 
estate development projects outside of the reservations. Out of all his 
contributions, Rick was most proud of his work serving on the board of 
the Native American Rights Fund and the Public Sector Gaming Study 
Commission.
  His devotion and commitment to serving others has been recognized 
with honors and awards including: the Eagle Visionary Award, the 
Pathbreakers Award and induction into the Indian Gaming Hall of Fame. 
He was also the first Indian Gaming inductee into the Gaming Hall of 
Fame.
  He was a loving husband, father, and tenderhearted coach to his sons 
and so many others. Rick leaves to cherish his memory: his spouse, and 
my dear friend, Donsia Strong Hill, as well as his children: Richard 
(Desirae), Sage, Dakota, and his two grandchildren: Asher and Vine. He 
is also survived by siblings: Barbara Author, Norbert, Jr. (Mary), Rosa 
(Rick) Coenen; sister-in-law, Lenora Hatathlie and brother-in-law, Mike 
Author; his nieces: Megan, Sarah, Maria, Nasbah (Jamison), Nanabah 
(Michael), Melissa (Scott); and his nephews: DineNizhoni, Christopher 
(Maria), Mark, Nabahe, Norbert III (Erin), and goddaughter, Jolene 
Billie; and long-term business partner and colleague, Dawn Reiter.
  Rick always credited his success to those who supported, mentored and 
befriended him while working in Indian Country. I am proud to have 
worked with Rick over a 30-year period and happy to have called him my 
friend. I am inspired by his work to continuously help other tribes and 
will work collaboratively with them to establish strong tribal 
governments. Everything he's accomplished came from the heart, and the 
legacy he leaves behind reflects the positive impact of his service.
  Madam Speaker, it is for these reasons I rise to salute Richard 
``Rick'' Graham Hill, a man who has made the State of Wisconsin and our 
nation a better place.

[[Page E1637]]

  

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