Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner announced former District 5 Councilor E.O. “Junior” Smith as the tribe’s special ambassador for youth athletics during a ceremony surrounded by youth.

“This year was supposed to be the year E.O. Smith left public service, but the Deputy Chief and I knowing him the way we do, seeing what he did as a patriot to this nation, as a public servant and knowing what he’s done for young people in his community, knowing that he had more to give and a lot more to do, knowing he had the support of his family, knowing he had a community wondering what was next for him, there was no chance that the Deputy Chief and I were going to let this be the year that E.O. Smith left public service,” Hoskin Jr. said. “In the coming years, I’m excited about the idea of creating more opportunities for young people around the program that E.O. will help bring with the public health team.”

Smith represented Council District 5 of the tribe’s legislative branch for the last eight years. He was elected in 2017 and re-elected in 2021.

“I can’t think of a better advocate, and it doesn’t matter what it is, but this just happens to be a youth athletic ambassador,” Warner said. “It brings me great pride to be able to stand beside him and work next to him to make sure that this program and what we continue to do will be a blessing to all these kids.”

Smith will report directly to the executive director of public health, and his job duties will consist of planning and operating youth athletic activities within the Cherokee Nation Reservation and beyond, develop and maintain points of contact at colleges and universities across the country for the purpose of enhancing opportunities for Cherokee Nation youth, promote the values of sportsmanship, teamwork and physical fitness and more.

“I coached my first Tball team in 1969,” Smith said. “Ever since then, I’ve tried to help as many kids as I can. One of the first things we are going to do is a free ball camp and other sports camps across the communities.”

Chief Hoskin and Deputy Chief Warner established the special ambassador position at a ceremony with Sequoyah students, Cherokee Immersion and Marble City School students last Wednesday at the Marble City Community Center.

Former Cherokee Nation Councilor E.O. “Junior” Smith speaks to Sequoyah students, Cherokee Immersion and Marble City School students last Wednesday at the Marble City Community Center. The Cherokee Nation has been appointed by the Cherokee Nation to serve as the Tribe’s special ambassador for youth athletics.