CHOCTAW, Miss. – Phillip Martin, the former tribal chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians who took his people on a journey from stifling poverty to prosperity, has died at the age of 83.

Martin served in public office for 45 years and as the Choctaw’s democratically-elected tribal chief for 28 years. He suffered a massive stroke Feb. 1 and died at St. Dominic’s Hospital in Jackson on the evening of Feb. 4. He was born March 13, 1926.

Universally respected as a man of honor and vision, not only among Choctaw citizens but also in the surrounding communities and among government officials, Martin’s death elicited an outpouring of sadness and praise.

“I, along with every member of our tribe, am saddened by the passing of Philip Martin,” said Miko Beasley Denson, the current tribal chief, in a statement issued by the nation.

“He was a great man and a visionary leader. I had the privilege of working with chief for many decades when I was on tribal council and leading various tribal enterprises. He transformed the economy of our tribe and with it the fate of our people. He modernized our government. Our tribe and all of Indian country would not be where we are today without his leadership, commitment to self-determination and his dedication to economic development. My prayers are with his family.”

First elected to the tribal council in 1957, Martin had served for 10 years as its chairman when he was first elected as tribal chief in 1979 – almost a decade before the passage of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and the prospect of casinos were on the horizon. From the beginning of his service in tribal government, Martin aimed to bring the Choctaw people out of dire poverty by focusing on economic development and self-determination.

He established more than a dozen tribally-owned enterprises, diversified the tribe’s economy and created more than 9,000 jobs. He was responsible for the creation of an 80-acre industrial park, a tribally-owned construction company, and several public service enterprises. Due to his efforts, the tribe is now one of Mississippi’s largest employers.

Under Martin’s tenure, the nation built its first casino, the Silver Star Hotel and Casino, in 1994 and added a second casino, the Golden Moon, in 2002 nearby.

The two casinos, Geyser Falls Water Theme Park and Dancing Rabbit Golf Club comprise Pearl River Resort, the largest and most profitable Choctaw enterprise. The resort became a catalyst for economic growth and jobs not only on the reservation but throughout east central Mississippi.

Martin told his life story in “Chief: The Autobiography of Phillip Martin, Longtime Tribal Leader, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians,” which was published in 2009.

“I felt compelled to recount the major events of my life because I believe I owe it to the Choctaw people, especially the young and those yet to be born,” Martin said.

“I want them to know how difficult life was before we as a people began to prosper again in the mid-20th century, following a 150-year period of suppression and tribal dissolution after the Trail of Tears in 1830. I want them to realize that earning a living was not always easy for their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. The Mississippi Choctaws’ valuable legacy is to be cherished, and is one worthy of being preserved, protected and told.”

Describing the success of the Choctaw nation under Martin’s leadership, award-winning business writer Donald L. Bartlett said of the nation’s economic development activity, “If it were a public company, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians would be the envy of corporate America.”

Mississippi Gov. Haley R. Barbour issued a statement memorializing Martin’s death.

“Chief Phillip Martin was a visionary leader whose remarkable life was marked by devoted and productive service to the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. His attention to economic development while preserving the cultural aspects of Native American life in Mississippi will be long remembered; he was a great Mississippian and will be missed.”

U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said Martin “inspired his people” and “created hope and opportunity for Mississippi Choctaws.”

Martin’s experiences were broad and his accomplishments were wide ranging. He served in the Air Force for 10 years, was president of the National Tribal Chairmen’s Association, and president of United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc.

With education always a priority, he was the first president of the Board of Regents of Haskell Indian Junior College, now Haskell Indian Nations University. He established the Choctaw Tribal Scholarship Program which allows all tribal students to attend the colleges and universities of their choice.

Martin was honored by dozens of national organizations, including the Small Business Administration, the United Indian Development Association, the United Indian Youth Organization, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

He held an honorary degree from Millsaps College and is a member of the Mississippi Business Hall of Fame. Martin was named Man of the Year by the Philadelphia Neshoba County Chamber of Commerce in 1997.

He is survived by his wife Bonnie, daughters Deborah Lewis and Patricia Gibson, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.