It is with great honor that Delaware Nation would recognize Mary Dean Rice, the last living tribal citizen allottee of 169 original allottees and their siblings considered as possessing 4/4 degree of Delaware Nation Indian Blood. She is the great-granddaughter of Black Beaver!

Mary Rice was raised on a farm in Verden, Oklahoma on land allotted to her mother and father. Growing up, Mary had to walk to school and she lived a mile from town. She remembers seeing and riding the school bus. She worked in the fields with the mules and helped with the family’s cotton and corn crops. Mary’s tasks were completed by using mules and driving tractors. She did everything on the farm that there was to do!

Ms. Rice and her husband of 50 years, Edward, once lived in California and were known as “rock hounds.” Before moving to California, they resided in Maysville, OK. They would travel to the desert and dig up rocks to break, grind, polish, and cut for a stone dealer in Pasadena, California. Edward passed in 1994, leaving Mary to sell their home in California and move to Purcell, OK, where she currently resides.

Mary Rice is proud of her sewing, knitting, and traveling hobbies. Mary loved traveling to Hawaii in the 80s. She is well-known for making 300 “lap quilts” by hand, which were donated to dialysis patients in Texas, with the help of her talented niece, Joy.

June 16 is annually declared “Mary D. Rice Day” by a 2018 proclamation signed and approved by the Delaware Nation Executive Committee. Her 106th birthday is May 25. Happy Birthday!

Wanìshi, Mary, for all of your contributions to the Tribe and to your local communities! 

Janice Maddox’s education (Bachelor in Education, Master in Administration, Master in Reading Specialist), skills, and experience make her an ideal candidate for her role as Tribal Administrator. Janice’s ability to quickly adapt to unprecedented challenges has kept operations running.

Janice maintains interests that are vital to the well-being of Delaware Nation citizens. Her position and responsibilities cannot be shared, thus making her resilient in achieving goals that better everyone under the nation’s umbrella. Janice always thoroughly examines all aspects of every decision she makes assuring operations run smoothly. Her eye for detail is sharp and true.

Janice is always welcoming and cheerful! Her kind attributes have gained incredible respect among Tribal citizens and Tribal government staff. Part of Delaware Nation’s success with long-term employment can be attributed to her integrity and successful temperament. Her guidance has led young men and women to long-term and rewarding careers! Her management has oversight of all tribal programs and she loves serving the great people of Delaware Nation.

Janice does not ask any employee to do something she is not willing to do, from picking up trash, cleaning bathrooms, distributing food boxes in the cold to cooking for an event. Due to her lucrative direction and organizational skills, Delaware Nation has been able to conduct many successful events that benefit the citizens and the community.

Wanìshi, Janice, for all your hard work and countless hours in maintaining and administering for Delaware Nation to be a prosperous tribal nation.

This is also Janice’s birthday month. Happy Birthday!