Hall-of-fame coach, World War II veteran and public servant to the Chickasaw Nation

Overton Cheadle was born in 1919, as a grandson of fellow Chickasaw Hall of Famer Martin Van Buren. He grew up in Oklahoma and eventually attended what is now known as the University of Central Oklahoma.

After school, Overton joined the U.S. Navy to help fight in World War II. While in the service, Overton rehabilitated sailors who were injured in the war. Being a man of strong, athletic build, he also played for the Navy athletic teams.

Once his time in the service was done, Overton returned to Oklahoma to teach and coach in Marlow. During his career and afterwards, he was always serving the Chickasaw Nation in some capacity. Overton was a member of the Tribal Council as well as an elected legislator for the Chickasaws. His support and service for the Chickasaws affected the Nation so much that a scholarship was created in his name:

"... the Chickasaw Tribal Legislature hereby approves a donation in the amount of eleven thousand dollars ($11,000) from its unobligated budgetary funds, to the Chickasaw Foundation, in the name of Overton M. Buck Cheadle, to be awarded by the Chickasaw Foundations as scholarships for Chickasaw undergraduate students at East Central University majoring in any subject that leads to a career in teaching or coaching."

Accomplishments

  • Inducted into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame in 1994
  • Inducted into the Iowa High School Coaches Hall of Fame
  • Inducted into the Chilocco Indian School Hall of Fame
  • Inducted into the Iowa State Hall of Pride