LETTER TO THE FAMILY, COMMUNITY, AND NATION

COMMEMORATING BUEL ANGLEN

By Chadwick “Corntassel” Smith

February 15, 2026

Buel Anglen was a builder.

Buel built houses. What he accomplished was not merely the construction of houses, but the creation of homes. His work stretches for miles from his hometown of Sperry—homes for families that he physically built with his own hands. There is brilliance in taking an abstract blueprint and transforming it, from a collection of materials, lumber, concrete, pipes, shingles, into something solid and enduring, something built on a firm foundation to protect families

against the elements of wind, rain, and heat, and provide safety and refuge.

He built homes where children, parents, and grandparents could thrive, hold each other close, and have a place that not only protected them but also witnessed beautiful dreams, heartfelt experiences, and lasting memories.

There is something profoundly good about building homes. Each day, Buel set out to accomplish something positive, and at the end of the day, he could see his progress: something of substance, something he could be proud of.

Perhaps his greatest construction was not made of concrete, wood, or nails, but of friendships, family, and community. The tools he mastered, kindness, compassion, humor, and friendship, also helped build families themselves. With his wife, Clara, they built a family, healthy, emotionally strong, productive, and guided by kindness and love. His wife and children adored him. In his everyday life and as a councilman for the Cherokee Nation, he sought ways for families to flourish.

Cherokee Chief Chad Smith (with his wife Bobbie) cut the ribbon marking the official opening of the new community center for Collinsville's Victory Cherokee Organization.

Buel built communities.

And as he did for his family, he did for his and other communities. He led the building of community centers through planning, development, construction, and management through the Cherokee Nation. Moreso, he fostered the growth of the spirit of community. He knew it was not the building that made a community, it was the people inside the building tied to each other, willing to help each other and share their lives.

Buel built a Nation.

As a councilman of the Cherokee Nation, he adhered to the blueprint of the Nation, its Constitution, and enforced it faithfully, especially in times it was challenged or ignored. Through his service, he helped enact laws that brought together the elements necessary to build a great house: the Cherokee Nation. He understood that the Nation was a family of families, a community of communities. What greater calling could there be? What greater success than

helping build a Nation grounded in strong families and vibrant communities?

The mark of a great builder is that his work is remembered not only for one generation, but for many. Buel’s work endures as a legacy that continues from generation to generation. Healthy families build strong communities, and strong communities build an enduring Nation.

For me, I will tell my children and grandchildren, with clarity and emotion, about Buel Anglen. I will tell them that there was a kind and generous man from Sperry, Oklahoma, who helped build

countless homes, families, and communities—and through that work, helped build the Nation itself. And they, in turn, will tell their children, and their children after them, about the man from Sperry.

He was a calm presence. A true friend. Always trustworthy. Always listening. Always kind. He knew right from wrong, and when entrusted with the responsibility of councilman, he did what was right—always for the people, and always for the right reason.

Clara was there every step of the way—handing him a hammer, a saw, offering encouragement, and providing strength. Together, they built a life defined by purpose and love. He was fearless in the face of challenges, steady in his convictions, and generous in spirit.

These words may fall short, as words often do when asked to carry the weight of a life so well lived. But let us focus on his memory, the lessons he exemplified, and the things he built—in us, with us, and for us—so that they may remain the blueprint for generations to come.

Until we see each other again, my friend.

Chadwick Smith