Editing Larry Echo Hawk

{{short description|Attorney and legal scholar}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name         = Larry Echo Hawk
|image        = LarryEchoHawkDOI.JPG
|caption      = Echo Hawk in 2009
|office       = 11th [[Bureau of Indian Affairs|Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs]] 
|president    = [[Barack Obama]]
|term_start   = May 22, 2009
|term_end     = April 27, 2012
|predecessor  = [[Carl J. Artman|Carl Artman]]
|successor    = [[Donald Laverdure|Del Laverdure]] (acting)
|office1      = 30th [[Idaho Attorney General|Attorney General of Idaho]]
|governor1    = [[Cecil D. Andrus|Cecil Andrus]]
|term_start1  = January 7, 1991
|term_end1    = January 2, 1995
|predecessor1 = [[Jim Jones (judge)|Jim Jones]]
|successor1   = [[Al Lance]]
|state_house2 = Idaho
|district2    = [[Bannock County, Idaho|Bannock County]]
|term_start2  = 1982
|term_end2    = 1986
|birth_date   = {{birth date and age|1948|8|2}}
|birth_place  = [[Cody, Wyoming|Cody]], [[Wyoming]], U.S.
|death_date   = 
|death_place  = 
|nationality  = American<br>[[Pawnee people|Pawnee Nation]]
|party        = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|spouse       = Terry Echo Hawk
|children     = 6
|education    = [[Brigham Young University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])<br>[[University of Utah]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])<br>[[Stanford University]] ([[Master of Business Administration|MBA]])
|branch       = {{flag|United States Marine Corps}}
}}
'''Larry J. Echo Hawk''' (born August 2, 1948) is an American [[Lawyer|attorney]], legal scholar, and politician. A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], Echo Hawk served under [[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[Barack Obama]] as the [[Bureau of Indian Affairs|United States Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs]] from 2009 to 2012.<ref>{{citation |access-date= 2012-03-31 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/05/20/20greenwire-senate-confirms-3-nominees-for-doe-1-for-inter-19116.html |title= Senate confirms 3 nominees for DOE, 1 for Interior |newspaper= [[The New York Times]] |author= Ling, Katherine |date= 2009-05-20}}</ref> He previously served as the [[Attorney General of Idaho]] from 1991 to 1995, the first Native American elected to the position,<ref name="doi">[http://www.doi.gov/whoweare/larryechohawk.cfm "Profile: Larry Echo Hawk"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805035412/http://www.doi.gov/whoweare/larryechohawk.cfm |date=2012-08-05 }}, Department of the Interior Profile</ref> and spent two terms in the [[Idaho House of Representatives]]. In 2012, he was [[Calling (LDS Church)|called]] as a [[general authority]] of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/leader/larry-echo-hawk?lang=eng|title = Elder Larry J. Echo Hawk}}</ref> As of 2022, Echo Hawk is the last Democrat to have served as Attorney General of Idaho.

==Early life and education==
Echo Hawk was born into the federally-recognized [[Pawnee Nation]] in [[Cody, Wyoming]], in 1948 to Ernest and Emma Jane Echo Hawk, where his father worked with the oil and gas industry. He is enrolled as a member of the tribe, whose reservation is in Oklahoma. Before Echo Hawk started first grade, his family moved to [[Farmington, New Mexico]]. His family joined the LDS Church when he was 14.<ref name="Whittle 2012-04-14">{{citation |url= https://www.thechurchnews.com/archive/2012-04-14/elder-larry-echo-hawk-lifting-people-a-lifelong-choice-38317 |title= Elder Larry Echo Hawk: 'Lifting people' a lifelong choice |newspaper= [[Church News]] |date= 14 April 2012 |first= Heather Whittle |last= Wrigley }}</ref>

Echo Hawk attended [[Brigham Young University]] on a [[Brigham Young University Cougars football|football]] scholarship.<ref name="byu">[http://byucougars.com/athlete/m-football/larry-echohawk Larry EchoHawk Athlete Profile | The Official Site of BYU Athletics]. (accessed 18 October 2013)</ref> After earning a degree in physical education and zoology, Echo Hawk served for two years in the [[United States Marine Corps]].

He earned a [[Juris Doctor]] in 1973 from the [[University of Utah]]. He then earned a [[Master of Business Administration]] from the [[Stanford Graduate School of Business]].<ref name="usdoi-4-2012">{{citation |url=http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/Assistant-Secretary-of-Indian-Affairs-Larry-Echo-Hawk-to-Conclude-Successful-Tenure-at-Interior.cfm |title=Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk to Conclude Successful Tenure at Interior |work=Press Release |publisher=[[United States Department of the Interior|US Department of the Interior]] |date= April 9, 2012 }}.</ref>

==Career==
Echo Hawk began his legal career working with California Indian Legal Services. In 1975, he started his own law practice in [[Salt Lake City, Utah]].<ref name="Whittle 2012-04-14" /> In 1977, he became general legal counsel for the [[Fort Hall, Idaho]]-based Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. He also served as a special prosecutor for the [[Navajo Nation]] in 1985.

He later settled in Idaho, becoming active in the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]. In 1982 Echo Hawk was elected to a seat in the [[Idaho House of Representatives]] from [[Bannock County, Idaho|Bannock County]], where he served two terms. He was later elected Bannock County prosecuting attorney in 1986.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://appropriations.house.gov/uploadedfiles/02.28.12_budget_hearing_-_interior_-_larry_echohawk_-_biography.pdf|title=Biographical Statement of Larry Echo Hawk Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs U.S. Department of the Interior|access-date=May 30, 2016}}</ref> Echo Hawk was elected Attorney General of Idaho in 1990, the first Native American elected to this position in Idaho.<ref name="doi"/>

Echo Hawk served as national co-chair for Native Americans for the [[Bill Clinton 1992 presidential campaign]]. He was a principal speaker at that year's [[Democratic National Convention]] and led the Idaho delegation as chair at the convention.

In 1994 Echo Hawk announced his candidacy to succeed fellow Democrat [[Cecil D. Andrus]], who was retiring as Governor of Idaho. Echo Hawk decisively defeated former state senator [[Ron Beitelspacher]] and an unknown candidate in the Democratic primary, fueling speculation that he could be the nation's first Native American governor. But, he was defeated in the general election by the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] candidate, former [[Lieutenant Governor of Idaho|Lieutenant Governor]] [[Phil Batt]]. Echo Hawk has not been a candidate for public office since.

Shortly after the 1994 election defeat, Echo Hawk accepted a faculty position at BYU's [[J. Reuben Clark Law School]] and returned to Utah. In that capacity he taught courses in criminal law, criminal procedure and federal Indian law. He has also published several scholarly papers.

Echo Hawk is admitted to the bar in [[Idaho]], [[Utah]] and [[California]].

===Native American issues===
Echo Hawk has served on the American Indian Services National Advisory Board and Board of Trustees. He was appointed by President Bill Clinton to the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice, a leading group on justice policy development.<ref>[http://appropriations.house.gov/UploadedFiles/02.28.12_Budget_Hearing_-_Interior_-_Larry_EchoHawk_-_Biography.pdf U.S. House hearing bio of Echo Hawk]</ref> He has also served on the board of the American Indian Community Resource Center.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.doi.gov/whoweare/larryechohawk.cfm |title=Department of Interior bio of Echo Hawk |access-date=2012-04-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805035412/http://www.doi.gov/whoweare/larryechohawk.cfm |archive-date=2012-08-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[John EchoHawk|John Echo Hawk]], director of the [[Native American Rights Fund]], is his brother.

Echo Hawk was appointed by President Obama as the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs in 2009. During his tenure, the government increased the amount of land held in trust for federally recognized Native American tribes by 158,000 acres, supporting their efforts to be self-supportive and to reconnect fragmented reservations. He also oversaw several water agreements made with Native American tribes. He directed implementation of the [[Tribal Law and Order Act]].<ref name= "usdoi-4-2012" /> While leading Indian Affairs, he oversaw the formation of the Tribal Leadership Conference, which provides for an annual meeting between leaders or other representatives of the 566 federally recognized tribes, the U.S. president and all members of the [[Cabinet (government)|Cabinet]].<ref>{{citation |url= http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865553811/New-Mormon-leader-Echo-Hawk-fostered-new-era-in-tribal-US-relations.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120413174147/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865553811/New-Mormon-leader-Echo-Hawk-fostered-new-era-in-tribal-US-relations.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= April 13, 2012 |title= Dennis Romboy "New Mormon Leader Echo Hawk Fostered New Era in U.S., Tribal Relations |newspaper= [[Deseret News]] |date= April 10, 2012 }}</ref> He resigned his position at Interior on April 27, 2012.<ref>{{citation |url= http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2012/04/09/echo-hawk-sets-resignation-date-for-april-27-107249 |title= Echo Hawk Sets Resignation Date For April 27 |date= April 9, 2012 |journal= [[Indian Country Today|Indian Country Today Media Network]] |access-date= April 13, 2012 |archive-url= https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20131021203645/http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/article/echo-hawk-sets-resignation-date-for-april-27-107249 |archive-date= October 21, 2013 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

In February 2019, Echo Hawk joined the administration of Utah governor [[Gary Herbert]] as special counsel on Native American affairs.<ref>[https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2019/02/05/herbert-reyes-hire-larry/ ''Salt Lake Tribune'' article on Echo Hawk's appointment]</ref>

===LDS Church service ===
{{Infobox LDS biography
| name                 = Larry J. Echo Hawk
| position_or_quorum1  = [[First Quorum of the Seventy]]
| called_by1           = [[Thomas S. Monson]]
| start_date1          = {{start date|2012|03|31}}
| end_date1             = {{end date|2018|10|06}}
| end_reason1           = Designated [[emeritus]] General Authority
|position_or_quorum2        = [[Emeritus]] General Authority
| called_by2         = [[Russell M. Nelson]]
| start_date2        = {{start date|2018|10|06}}
}}
In the LDS Church, Echo Hawk has served as [[stake president|president]] of a student [[Stake (Latter Day Saints)|stake]] on the BYU campus, a [[Bishop (LDS Church)|bishop]], and [[High council (Latter Day Saints)|high councilor]].

At the time he was elected State Attorney General in Idaho, he was serving as a member of the board of trustees of [[LDS Social Services]].<ref>{{citation |title= Idaho attorney general is living example of 'American dream' |url= https://www.thechurchnews.com/archive/1991-08-03/idaho-attorney-general-is-living-example-of-american-dream-3633 |newspaper= [[Church News]] |date= August 3, 1991 }}</ref>

He was [[Common consent (Mormonism)|accepted]] by church membership as a general authority and member of the [[First Quorum of the Seventy]] on March 31, 2012. During his first year as a general authority he made multiple trips throughout the southwest US, often meeting with groups of Latter-day Saint Native Americans.<ref>[http://www.navajotimes.com/politics/2013/0813/080113ech.php ''Navajo Times'' article on Echo Hawk]</ref> From 2013 to 2015, Echo Hawk served as second counselor in the presidency of the church's Philippines [[Area (LDS Church)|Area]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140502060657/http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/media/attachments/64.pdf ''Church News'', May 25, 2013].</ref><ref name="August 2015 changes">[https://web.archive.org/web/20150505061636/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865627718/Area-leadership-assignments-announced.html?pg=all "LDS First Presidency announces area leadership assignments"], ''[[Church News]]'', 2 May 2015.</ref> From 2015 to 2018, Echo Hawk served as an assistant executive director of the church's Correlation Department.<ref name=Councils>{{cite news |url= http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865670102/Church-leaders-discuss-importance-of-councils.html?pg=all |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170101090944/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865670102/Church-leaders-discuss-importance-of-councils.html?pg=all |url-status= dead |archive-date= January 1, 2017 |title='A heavenly pattern' participating in family, Church councils|last= Weaver |first= Sarah Jane |date= 29 December 2015 |newspaper= [[Deseret News]] }}</ref> He was also a member of the LDS Church's Boundary and Leadership Change Committee.<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/leader/larry-echo-hawk?lang=eng LDS Church profile on Echo Hawk]</ref> On October 6, 2018, Echo Hawk was released and designated an emeritus general authority.<ref>{{citation |url= https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/leadership-changes-announced-october-2018-general-conference|title= Leadership Changes Announced at October 2018 General Conference: Seven General Authority Seventies released|work= Newsroom |publisher= [[LDS Church]] |date= 2018-10-06 }}</ref>

== Personal life ==
He later baptized Teresa "Terry" Pries, whom he had been dating for several years. In 1968, their marriage in the [[Salt Lake Temple]] was performed by [[Spencer W. Kimball]], then a member of the [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church)|Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]]. The couple have had six children together.<ref name="Whittle 2012-04-14" />

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/leader/larry-echo-hawk?lang=eng General Authorities and General Officers: Elder Larry Echo Hawk]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120805035412/http://www.doi.gov/whoweare/larryechohawk.cfm "Profile: Larry Echo Hawk"], Department of the Interior Profile
* [http://www.echohawk.com/ Echo Hawk Law Offices]
* [http://archives.lib.byu.edu/repositories/14/resources/2488 Larry Jack Echo Hawk Papers, MSS 8050] at [https://sites.lib.byu.edu/sc/ L. Tom Perry Special Collections], Brigham Young University
* {{C-SPAN|23398}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-legal}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Jim Jones (judge)|Jim Jones]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Attorney General of Idaho]]|years=1991–1995}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Al Lance]]}}
|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Cecil D. Andrus|Cecil Andrus]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[List of Governors of Idaho|Governor of Idaho]]|years=[[1994 Idaho gubernatorial election|1994]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Robert C. Huntley|Robert Huntley]]}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Carl J. Artman|Carl Artman]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Bureau of Indian Affairs|Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs]]|years=2009–2012}} 
{{s-aft|after=[[Donald Laverdure|Del Laverdure]]<br>{{small|Acting}}}}
{{s-end}}

{{Obama Administration personnel}}
{{LDS70GA}}
{{Native American people and the Latter Day Saint movement}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Echo Hawk, Larry}}
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:American general authorities (LDS Church)]]
[[Category:American prosecutors]]
[[Category:Brigham Young University alumni]]
[[Category:Brigham Young University faculty]]
[[Category:BYU Cougars football players]]
[[Category:Converts to Mormonism]]
[[Category:Idaho attorneys general]]
[[Category:Idaho lawyers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the First Quorum of the Seventy (LDS Church)]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the Idaho House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Mormonism and Native Americans]]
[[Category:Native American state legislators in Idaho]]
[[Category:Pawnee people]]
[[Category:People from Farmington, New Mexico]]
[[Category:People from Cody, Wyoming]]
[[Category:Religious figures of the indigenous peoples of North America]]
[[Category:S.J. Quinney College of Law alumni]]
[[Category:Stanford University alumni]]
[[Category:United States Bureau of Indian Affairs personnel]]
[[Category:Utah lawyers]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saints from Wyoming]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saints from Idaho]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saints from Utah]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saints from New Mexico]]
[[Category:Native American people from Utah]]
[[Category:Native American lawyers]]
[[Category:Native American academics]]
[[Category:20th-century Native American people]]
[[Category:21st-century Native American politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Idaho Legislature]]