Talk:W. W. Keeler

To do to improve

This article could be greatly expanded. For example, where and when born and died would be nice. I looked for some sources and I can find sources which verify his position, but no other information in English about him --- Deville (Talk) 03:16, 17 December 2006 (UTC)

I agree. I've added in his name and added a category showing his death year. However, more is needed. Here are some basics that would greatly improve:

• birth and death dates (other than the death year I placed in the Category)
• childhood family and education
• how was it that he was nominated and then appointed by Truman?
• what impact did he have on the Cherokee Nation as an appointed Principal Chief?
• what lead to the reforms under him?
• what lead to his election as Principal Chief?
• what is the legacy he leaves behind, not only for the Cherokee Nation but also for all of Indian Country and the United States?
• a little bit on his family would be nice
• photo available?
• any memorable quotes?
• did he write essays, articles and books? -- if he did, a bibliography would be good
• in-line citation
• references (both the ones in English and in Tsalagi) -- be sure to note (chr) if the source is in Tsalagi
• more Categories (appropriate ones, of course)

Please cross off the list as they have been completed. Thanks. CJLippert 14:41, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

W. W. "Bill" Keeler was a greater man than this article would indicate. This article needs to be rewritten and expanded to cover his business career and the respected social position that he and his family held in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. (There is a lot of material available elsewhere on the Internet.) I knew the Keelers; they attended my church, and his son, also "Bill" (born in 1936), was in my Boy Scout troop at the time his Dad was VP of refining for Phillips. (The younger Bill Keeler, a respected surgeon and Vietnam veteran, died in January 2013 in Reno, NV; no mention was made in the obituary of his Cherokee heritage-- it wasn't that important to him.) True, as Phillips' CEO the older Bill Keeler was selected to be the "bag man" for Phillips Petroleum's illegal campaign contribution to Richard Nixon, but he was "asked" to do this by his Chairman of the Board, his ex brother-in-law, who had married and divorced his older sister Blanche. (He could not refuse to approach Nixon and still stay on as CEO.) No one in Bartlesville thought of W. W. Keeler as an "Indian", although people there thought that being Cherokee Chief, in addition to being CEO of Phillips Petroleum, was an honor he well deserved. It disturbs me that the "white" versus "Indian" politically-correct contrast is such a big theme in this article. The Cherokees in Bartlesville were admired for their high intelligence and grace. W. W. Keller's grandfather was George Keeler, an early settler and business man in Bartlesville, who could only do business in Indian Territory if he married into the Cherokee tribe. The same was true of George's son (W. W.'s father), who was also a solid earlier citizen of Bartlesville. Writer (talk) 19:34, 28 August 2013 (UTC)

1/16 ?!?

Two Cherokee grandmothers of a total maximum of four grandparents make him half Cherokee, in my reckoning. Ymmv. --129.13.72.198 (talk) 17:43, 26 April 2016 (UTC)

POV

This article is a great start, but it seems like it has neutrality issues, for example in this sentence: "Although these appointments are most likely attributed to his success as a businessman as well as his white appearance, they should not diminish his success and accomplishments in the Cherokee nation." I don't know enough about Wikipedia policy, Mr. Keeler, or the Cherokee Nation and culture to make the appropriate edits, but I would like to see if someone with more knowledge would be willing to clean it up. Any help you can offer would be appreciated. Lbr123 (talk) 13:45, 9 April 2018 (UTC)