( – promoted by navajo)
Anton “Tony” Hollow, perhaps the last WW II Lakota Code Talker, and longtime educator and advocate for Native Americans, has passed away after a lengthy illness.
Born March 8, 1917 on the Fort Peck Reservation in Montana, he served in the United States Army as a code talker during WWII, attaining the rank of Chief Warrant Officer.
CWO Hollow joined the U.S. Army in January, 1940, and served until March, 1946, including in the Pacific Theater.
News of Mr. Hollow’s passing comes as the Native American community celebrates Navajo Nation Code Talkers Week. We take this opportunity to remember not only those well known Navajo warriors, but their lesser known Cherokee, Choctaw, Meskwaki, Commanche, and, of course, Lakota brothers as well
When Tony Hollow passed through Fort Lewis, WA, near Tacoma, during the war he discovered the beauty of Washington State, where he would spend much of the remainder of his long life. Washington, and particularly its Native American residents would be glad he did,
The GI Bill helped Tony further his education, which he capped off with an MA in Business Administration from Central Washington University in 1975 at the tender age of 58. He and his wife Maude lived in Wenatchee, where he worked as an accountant for local businesses such as Jones Pontiac, Wenatchee Roofing, and the Boeing aircraft company. He was the kind of man who wanted more than a business career.
Tony established the Wenatchee Indian Center and commited himself as a grant writer who was instrumental in bringing numerous services to the Native American community of Chelan County. Somehow he found the time and energy to serve as President of Chief Dull Knife College in Lame Deer, MT, on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, as well.
After Tony’s retirement then Washington Governor Dan Evans appointed him to the Washington State Advisory Board for Native Americans.
Tony was preceded in death by his wife Maude, brother Norman, daughter Sonjia, and grandchildren Martyn and Collette. He is survived by his sisters Carolyn and Harriet, children Walter and Kitty, nine grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. He also leaves his loving companion of fifteen years, June Jelvik, her two daughters, Betty and Donna, and her grandchildren, Ryan and JR, all of whom were like step children and grandchildren to him.
Tony’s memorial service was held August 11, 2011 in Everett, WA, where he was then inurned at the Cypress Lawn Memorial Park.
After a long life, well lived, Tony Hollow will be sorely missed.
crossposted to Daily Kos
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