Bill Houle Former Chairman of Fond du Lac Band: A Legacy of Service
Channel: JP Rennquist
Date: 05/07/2013

This is from special coverage of the passing of former Fond du Lac Band Tribal Chairman William "Bill" Houle on 89.1 FM WGZS-Cloquet, A service of Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.  

Interviews with current Fond du Lac Tribal Chairwoman Karen Diver; News Anchor and Reporter Michelle Lee; Fond du Lac Human Services Director Phil Norrgard; and FDL Veterans Program Manager and former Tribal Council member Chuck Smith; Producer, JP Rennquist

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FOND DU LAC RESERVATION, Cloquet, MN - The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa sadly announces the passing of former Reservation Business Committee (RBC) Chairman, William (Bill) Houle, 81, with his family by his side on June 30, 2013. (8/22/1931 - 6/30/2013).

Mr. Houle was Chairman of the RBC from 1974-1988. During his tenure as Chairman, Mr. Houle's vision was to help alleviate poverty on the Fond du Lac Reservaion. He aggressively sought to bring gaming to Fond du Lac. Bill was a prominent figure in initiating the Fond-du-Luth Casino. He was a founder in the development of and served as chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA).

Mr. Houle also served as the Brookston District representaive, 1968-1974, and was a driving force in the education process on Fond du Lac with his involvment with Johnson O'Malley Committee. Bill was a veteran, having proudly served in the US Navy.

"The legacy of Chairmen Houle's leadership lives on today with Fond du Lac's investment in economic stability and community services," Karen Diver, Chairwoman Fond du Lac RBC.

Visitation will be held on Friday, July 5, 2013 from 4 - 7 pm in the Handevidt Funeral Home, 900 Washington Ave, Cloquet. Visitation will continue on Saturday, July 6, 2013 from 10:00 am until the 11:00 am Funeral Service also in the funeral home. Full
military honors by the Cloquet Combined Honor Guard and the Fond du Lac Honor Guard.