Lawrence Homer Hart

Lawrence Homer Hart, He’amavehonevėstse (Sky Chief) was born at home on the banks of Quartermaster Creek north of Hammon to Jennie Howling Water and Homer Hart on February 24, 1933. He was delivered by his grandmother Corn Stalk—Anna Reynolds—who was a midwife and delivered numerous Cheyenne babies. His grandfather John Peak Heart (later John P. Hart) was a Cheyenne Sundance Priest, Native American Church leader and Cheyenne Chief. Lawrence had two older brothers Alvin and Sam, three older sisters Lucy, Lenore, and Kris who preceded him in death. He has one younger sister Ramona who resides in Weatherford. Lawrence was raised by Cornstalk and John P speaking only Cheyenne the first years of his life. His early formal education was at the Quartermaster School in Moorewood. English was a challenging subject, because of his “language problem” he was held back in first grade. Lawrence remained close to his grandfather, traveling with him during the summers. John P. Hart often led Native American Church services with the Ute Mountain Utes in Colorado and around the Four Corners region in Colorado. Lawrence attended Hammon High School playing basketball, running track, and graduating in 1952. Lawrence attended Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas where he lettered in track. He met a Kansas girl named Betty Bartel and the two were married October 4, 1957. Betty and Lawrence had three children: Connie Hart Yellowman, Nathan Hart, and Cris Hart Wolfe. Lawrence is survived by four grandchildren: Micah C. Hart, Cristina Hart “Cricket” Yellowman, Lily D. Hart, Sydney S. Hart, and Lexus L. Wolfe; and two great grandchildren Nolan Ortiz and Stevanna “Sister” Ortiz. Lawrence is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, their children, and grandchildren. In 1955, Lawrence left Bethel to realize his dream of flying jet fighter planes in the Navy and the Marines. First Lieutenant Lawrence Homer Hart was the first American Indian to become a U.S. military jet pilot and instructor. He was a commissioned Marine but flew his wartime missions off a U.S. Navy Aircraft carrier. He was one MIG kill short of qualifying as an ACE when a truce with North Korea was declared. While in the Marine Corps, he was selected to appear on the then popular “What’s My Line” television show. He signed in using his Cheyenne name Black Beaver and his occupation was a jet fighter pilot. His grandfather John Peak Heart selected Lawrence to take his place as a Cheyenne Chief. When the initiation was scheduled to occur in Hammon, Oklahoma, Lawrence’s commanding officer authorized him to fly to Clinton-Sherman so he could be in attendance. Following the ceremony Lawrence told the people he would fly over the location. Numerous descendants of those in attendance spoke of the time they waived their tea towels in the sky when Lawrence conducted the fly-over. On that day he also broke the sound-barrier flying over the Gulf Coast before returning to his station at Chase Field, Beeville, Texas. After he became a Cheyenne Chief, Lawrence left military service and attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University before returning to Bethel to graduate in 1961 with a degree in History. Lawrence then attended the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana and became an ordained Mennonite pastor. Lawrence and Betty moved to Clinton in 1963 where he served as pastor to the Koinonia Mennonite Church until October 2021.   Throughout his career, Lawrence served on numerous local, state and National Indian Education boards and Committees. He also served on several Mennonite Committees as well as a board member to his alma mater Bethel College. In 1992 he was selected by the U.S. Senate as a Delegate to the White House Conference on Indian Education. That same year he was named “Indian Elder of the Year” by the National Indian Education Association. Lawrence served as a board member of the Clinton Public Schools as well as leadership positions from 1993 to 1998. He was the first Native American elected to serve that position. He received many awards including “Distinguished Citizen Award” by the Oklahoma Heritage Association in 1993. In 1995 he was the recipient of the ““Distinguished Service Award” from Bethel College. In 1997, the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes recognized his as a “Distinguished Honorary Citizen” for Cheyenne language preservation. In September 1996, Secretary Bruce Babbit appointed Mr. Hart to the Review Committee of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990. The family would like to extend thanks to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes programs and Cheyenne District 3 for the assistance provided to their elder tribal member Lawrence H. Hart. The family also thanks Shepherd Hospice for the care provided to their husband, father, and uncle during the last year of his life. Memorials in the name of Lawrence H. Hart may be made to the Koinonia Mennonite Church in Clinton, Oklahoma or to the charity of your choice. Visitation on Wednesday March 9, 4:00 to 6:00 pm will be held at the Koinonia Indian Mennonite Church, 10348 N 2270 Road, Clinton, OK 73601. Funeral Service is scheduled for Thursday March 10, at 11:00 am, Clinton Emergency Response Center (formerly Clinton Community Hall), 2015 Dog Patch Road, Clinton, OK, 73601 and under the direction of Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home. Marine Military Honors for the burial are scheduled to begin at 12:30 pm on the Lawrence H Hart Property of Red Wheat Allotment, 22745 E 1040 Rd, Clinton, OK 73601.