Sara Misquez
Encyclopedia
Sara Jane Misquez was an American
Mescalero Apache Native American
leader. Misquez served as the president of the Mescalero Apache of southern New Mexico
.
, but she was raised in Three Rivers, New Mexico
. Her husband was Gilbert Misquez.
Misquez earned a degree in business
from Haskell Indian Junior College
, which is now known as the Haskell Indian Nations University
, in Lawrence, Kansas
.
Misquez was defeated for re-election in the 2001 election for president by Mark Chino, who is the son of former president Wendell Chino. However, the results of the election were thrown out by the Mascalero tribal council just two weeks later because of a controversy involving the voting machines.
Misquez won the new special presidential election, which was held in January 2002. She was defeated again by Mark Chino in the tribe's next presidential election in November 2003.
Misquez defeated Chino in the tribe's 2007 primary election when she received the most votes, followed by Carleton Naiche-Palmer
. However, Naiche-Palmer went on to win the 2007 general election to become president of the Mescalero Apache.
Before she became president, Misquez also served as the tribe's administrator, council member and tribal secretary
.
near Tularosa, New Mexico
.
She was 62 years old. Her 1999 Oldsmobile
sports utility vehicle was travelling east when it veered into the median
and overturned. Misquez is survived by her husband, two sons, and one daughter. She was preceded in death by a son, Gilbert Ralph Misquez.
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson released a statement on news of her death stating, "President Misquez led the Mescalero Apaches with honor and dignity. On behalf of all New Mexicans, I send my sincere condolences to President Misquez's family and friends."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Mescalero Apache Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
leader. Misquez served as the president of the Mescalero Apache of southern New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
.
Early life
Sara Misquez was born on September 6, 1945, in Mescalero, New MexicoMescalero, New Mexico
Mescalero is a census-designated place in Otero County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,233 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Mescalero is located at ....
, but she was raised in Three Rivers, New Mexico
Three Rivers, New Mexico
Three Rivers is an unincorporated community in Otero County, United States. Its elevation is 4,570 feet .-Notable people:*Virginia Klinekole, first female president of the Mescalero Apache, 1959*Sara Misquez, president of the Mescalero Apache...
. Her husband was Gilbert Misquez.
Misquez earned a degree in business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
from Haskell Indian Junior College
Haskell Indian Nations University
Haskell Indian Nations University is a tribal university located in Lawrence, Kansas, for members of federally recognized Native American tribes in the United States...
, which is now known as the Haskell Indian Nations University
Haskell Indian Nations University
Haskell Indian Nations University is a tribal university located in Lawrence, Kansas, for members of federally recognized Native American tribes in the United States...
, in Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
.
Mescalero presidency
Misquez was first appointed president of the Mescalero Apache in May 1999, following the death of the longtime leader of the tribe for 43 years, Wendell Chino on November 4, 1998, and the May 1999 ouster of Paul Ortega by the Mescalero Tribal Council after he served six months as president. Misquez, who was a longtime aide of Wendell Chino, went onto win the tribe's presidential election in August 1999.Misquez was defeated for re-election in the 2001 election for president by Mark Chino, who is the son of former president Wendell Chino. However, the results of the election were thrown out by the Mascalero tribal council just two weeks later because of a controversy involving the voting machines.
Misquez won the new special presidential election, which was held in January 2002. She was defeated again by Mark Chino in the tribe's next presidential election in November 2003.
Misquez defeated Chino in the tribe's 2007 primary election when she received the most votes, followed by Carleton Naiche-Palmer
Carleton Naiche-Palmer
Carleton A. Naiche-Palmer was elected president of the Mescalero Apache Tribe in 2008. He served one term, until early 2010.-Early life and education:...
. However, Naiche-Palmer went on to win the 2007 general election to become president of the Mescalero Apache.
Before she became president, Misquez also served as the tribe's administrator, council member and tribal secretary
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
.
Death
Sara Misquez died on January 9, 2008, in a one car crash on U.S. Route 70U.S. Route 70
U.S. Route 70 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 2,385 miles from eastern North Carolina to east-central Arizona. As can be derived from its number, it is a major east–west highway of the Southern and Southwestern United States...
near Tularosa, New Mexico
Tularosa, New Mexico
Tularosa is a village in Otero County, New Mexico, United States. It shares its name with the Tularosa Basin, in which the town is located. To the east, Tularosa is flanked by the western edge of the Sacramento Mountains. The population was 2,864 at the 2000 census...
.
She was 62 years old. Her 1999 Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile was a brand of American automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. It was founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In its 107-year history, it produced 35.2 million cars, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory...
sports utility vehicle was travelling east when it veered into the median
Median
In probability theory and statistics, a median is described as the numerical value separating the higher half of a sample, a population, or a probability distribution, from the lower half. The median of a finite list of numbers can be found by arranging all the observations from lowest value to...
and overturned. Misquez is survived by her husband, two sons, and one daughter. She was preceded in death by a son, Gilbert Ralph Misquez.
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson released a statement on news of her death stating, "President Misquez led the Mescalero Apaches with honor and dignity. On behalf of all New Mexicans, I send my sincere condolences to President Misquez's family and friends."