# Thomas Atcitty > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Thomas_Atcitty > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Thomas_Atcitty.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Atcitty > Source revision: 1350638917 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American politician (1933–2020)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Thomas Atcitty | office = 3rd [President of the Navajo Nation](/source/President_of_the_Navajo_Nation) | vice_president = [Milton Bluehouse Sr.](/source/Milton_Bluehouse_Sr.) | term_start = February 19, 1998 | term_end = July 23, 1998 | predecessor = [Albert Hale](/source/Albert_Hale) | successor = [Milton Bluehouse Sr.](/source/Milton_Bluehouse_Sr.) | office1 = 2nd [Vice President of the Navajo Nation](/source/Vice_President_of_the_Navajo_Nation) | president1 = [Albert Hale](/source/Albert_Hale) | term_start1 = November 1, 1995 | term_end1 = February 19, 1998 | predecessor1 = [Marshall Plummer](/source/Marshall_Plummer) | successor1 = [Milton Bluehouse Sr.](/source/Milton_Bluehouse_Sr.) | office2 = Member of the [New Mexico House of Representatives](/source/New_Mexico_House_of_Representatives)
from the 4th district | term_start2 = 1981 | term_end2 = 1995 | predecessor2 = | successor2 = | birth_date = {{birth date|1933|11|01}} | birth_place = [Shiprock](/source/Shiprock), [Navajo Nation](/source/Navajo_Nation), New Mexico, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2020|10|11|1933|11|01}} | death_place = Shiprock, Navajo Nation, New Mexico, U.S. | party = [Democratic](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)) | education = [Taylor University](/source/Taylor_University)
[University of Colorado Boulder](/source/University_of_Colorado_Boulder)
[Gannon University](/source/Gannon_University) }} '''Thomas Atcitty''' (November 1, 1933 – October 11, 2020) was an American politician and educator who served in the [New Mexico House of Representatives](/source/New_Mexico_House_of_Representatives) as a member of the [Democratic Party](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)), 2nd [Vice President of the Navajo Nation](/source/Vice_President_of_the_Navajo_Nation), and briefly served as the 3rd [President of the Navajo Nation](/source/President_of_the_Navajo_Nation). He was a member of the [Navajo Nation](/source/Navajo_Nation). ==Early life== Thomas Atcitty was born on November 1, 1933 in [Shiprock](/source/Shiprock). Atcitty graduated from [Navajo Mission High School](/source/Navajo_Preparatory_School) in 1954, and attended [Taylor University](/source/Taylor_University), the [University of Colorado](/source/University_of_Colorado), and [Gannon University](/source/Gannon_University). He served in the [United States Marine Corps](/source/United_States_Marine_Corps).{{Cite web|url=https://nativenewsonline.net/currents/navajo-nation-mourns-loss-of-former-president-thomas-atcitty|title=Navajo Nation Mourns Loss of Former President Thomas Atcitty|first=Native News Online|last=Staff|website=Native News Online|date=15 October 2020 }} ==Career== ===Education=== Atcitty served as the vice-president of the [Navajo Community College](/source/Din%C3%A9_College) during the 1970s after starting to work at the college in 1969. On October 16, 1972, President Ned Hatathli died when he shot himself while cleaning his rifle causing Atcitty to become acting president. Atcitty was selected to replace Hatathli on December 4, and later became the official third president of the college on February 8, 1973.{{Cite news |date=October 18, 1972 |title=Atcitty Is Acting NCC President |page=1 |work=[Gallup Independent](/source/Gallup_Independent) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61138066/the-gallup-independent/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201015154445/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61138066/the-gallup-independent/ |archive-date=October 15, 2020 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}{{Cite news |date=December 10, 1972 |title=Regents Name New President |page=7 |work=[Clovis News Journal](/source/Clovis_News_Journal) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61138077/clovis-news-journal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201015154630/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61138077/clovis-news-journal/ |archive-date=October 15, 2020 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}{{Cite news |date=January 14, 1973 |title=Ceremony Planned |page=14 |work=[Alamogordo Daily News](/source/Alamogordo_Daily_News) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61138084/alamogordo-daily-news/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201015154955/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61138084/alamogordo-daily-news/ |archive-date=October 15, 2020 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}{{Cite news |date=April 12, 1973 |title=NCC To Install President Today |page=16 |work=[Albuquerque Journal](/source/Albuquerque_Journal) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61138111/albuquerque-journal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201015155137/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61138111/albuquerque-journal/ |archive-date=October 15, 2020 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}} He served as president of the college until his resignation made effective March 1, 1977.{{Cite news |date=October 14, 2020 |title=Former Navajo leader, NM state representative Thomas Atcitty dead at 86 |work=[Farmington Daily Times](/source/Farmington_Daily_Times) |url=https://www.daily-times.com/story/news/local/navajo-nation/2020/10/14/former-navajo-nation-vice-president-new-mexico-state-representative-thomas-atcitty-dead/3652611001/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201015155723/https://www.daily-times.com/story/news/local/navajo-nation/2020/10/14/former-navajo-nation-vice-president-new-mexico-state-representative-thomas-atcitty-dead/3652611001/ |archive-date=October 15, 2020 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}{{Cite news |date=February 16, 1977 |title=Navajo college president quits at request of school's regents |page=28 |work=[The Arizona Republic](/source/The_Arizona_Republic) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61152253/arizona-republic/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201015155604/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61152253/arizona-republic/ |archive-date=October 15, 2020 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}} ===Politics=== Atcitty was elected to the [New Mexico House of Representatives](/source/New_Mexico_House_of_Representatives) from the 4th district as a member of the [Democratic Party](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)) and served until his resignation in January 1995.{{Cite news |date=November 4, 1980 |title=Most Solons Get Free Ride |page=3 |work=[Carlsbad Current-Argus](/source/Carlsbad_Current-Argus) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61153163/carlsbad-current-argus/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201015161412/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61153163/carlsbad-current-argus/ |archive-date=October 15, 2020 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}} During his tenure in the New Mexico House of Representatives he served as the chairman of the Consumer and Public Affairs committee.{{Cite news |date=January 21, 1983 |title=Chairman |page=6 |work=[Albuquerque Journal](/source/Albuquerque_Journal) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61153397/albuquerque-journal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201015161926/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61153397/albuquerque-journal/ |archive-date=October 15, 2020 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}} Atcitty also served as the co-chairman of the Democratic caucus in the House of Representatives alongside [Felix Nunez](/source/Felix_Nunez).{{Cite news |date=January 18, 1985 |title=Co-chairman |page=7 |work=[Deming Headlight](/source/Deming_Headlight) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61216686/the-deming-headlight/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201016181157/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61216686/the-deming-headlight/ |archive-date=October 16, 2020 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}} Atcitty served as [Albert Hale](/source/Albert_Hale)'s vice-presidential running mate during the 1994 Navajo Nation presidential election and they won defeating incumbent President [Peterson Zah](/source/Peterson_Zah).{{Cite news |date=November 10, 1994 |title=Hale wants Clinton to free MacDonald |page=3 |work=[Arizona Daily Sun](/source/Arizona_Daily_Sun) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61217065/arizona-daily-sun/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201016181754/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61217065/arizona-daily-sun/ |archive-date=October 16, 2020 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}} He resigned from the House of Representatives to become the [Vice President of the Navajo Nation](/source/Vice_President_of_the_Navajo_Nation). During his vice-presidency he sought the pardon of [Peter MacDonald](/source/Peter_MacDonald_(Navajo_leader)) by President [Bill Clinton](/source/Bill_Clinton).{{Cite news |date=July 1, 1996 |title=MacDonald pardon sought |page=2 |work=[Arizona Daily Star](/source/Arizona_Daily_Star) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61217362/arizona-daily-star/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201016182056/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61217362/arizona-daily-star/ |archive-date=October 16, 2020 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}} On February 18, 1998, President Hale resigned to avoid criminal prosecution causing Atcitty to become [President of the Navajo Nation](/source/President_of_the_Navajo_Nation), but he only served until he was removed by the [Navajo Nation Council](/source/Navajo_Nation_Council) on July 23, 1998, for violating ethic codes. During his tenure as president he was given the [Medgar Evers Award](/source/Medgar_Evers) by the [NAACP](/source/NAACP).{{Cite news |date=March 27, 1998 |title=MacDonald pardon sought |page=6 |work=[The Santa Fe New Mexican](/source/The_Santa_Fe_New_Mexican) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61217515/the-santa-fe-new-mexican/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201016182324/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61217515/the-santa-fe-new-mexican/ |archive-date=October 16, 2020 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}} ==Death== Atcitty died from natural causes on October 11, 2020, at age 86.{{Cite news |date=October 14, 2020 |title=Former Navajo Nation President Thomas Atcitty dies at 86 |work=[KNXV-TV](/source/KNXV-TV) |url=https://www.abc15.com/news/state/former-navajo-nation-president-thomas-atcitty-dies-at-86 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201015023615/https://www.abc15.com/news/state/former-navajo-nation-president-thomas-atcitty-dies-at-86 |archive-date=October 15, 2020 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}} ==References== {{reflist}} {{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=[Albert Hale](/source/Albert_Hale)}} {{s-ttl|title=[President of the Navajo Nation](/source/President_of_the_Navajo_Nation)|years=1998}} {{s-aft|after=[Milton Bluehouse Sr.](/source/Milton_Bluehouse_Sr.)}} {{s-end}} {{Presidents of the Navajo Nation}} {{Vice Presidents of the Navajo Nation}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Atcitty, Thomas}} Category:1933 births Category:2020 deaths Category:20th-century Native American politicians Category:21st-century Native American people Category:Democratic Party members of the New Mexico House of Representatives Category:Gannon University alumni Category:Military personnel from New Mexico Category:People from Shiprock, New Mexico Category:Presidents of the Navajo Nation Category:Taylor University alumni Category:University of Colorado Boulder alumni Category:Vice presidents of the Navajo Nation Category:20th-century members of the New Mexico Legislature Category:United States Marines --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Thomas Atcitty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Atcitty) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Atcitty?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.