Neal McCaleb | |
|---|---|
 McCaleb speaking at the opening ceremonies of theOklahoma City Crosstown Expressway | |
| 8thAssistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs | |
| In office 2001–2003 | |
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Kevin Gover |
| Succeeded by | David W. Anderson |
| Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation | |
| In office January 1995 – July, 2001 | |
| Governor | Frank Keating |
| Preceded by | Delmas Ford |
| Succeeded by | Herschal Crow |
| In office 1987–1991 | |
| Governor | Henry Bellmon |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Delmas Ford |
| Director of theOklahoma Department of Transportation and theOklahoma Turnpike Authority | |
| In office January, 1995 – July, 2001 | |
| Governor | Frank Keating |
| Minority Leader ofOklahoma House of Representatives | |
| In office 1979–1983 | |
| Preceded by | Kent Frates |
| Succeeded by | Frank W. Davis |
| Member of theOklahoma House of Representatives from the 35th district | |
| In office 1974–1983 | |
| Preceded by | Jan Turner |
| Succeeded by | Steve Sill |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1935-06-30)June 30, 1935 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Died | January 7, 2025(2025-01-07) (aged 89) |
| Nationality | American Chickasaw Nation |
| Political party | Republican |
| Children | 4 |
| Residence(s) | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Oklahoma A&M College |
| Occupation | Civil Engineer Politician |
Neal A. McCaleb (June 30, 1935 – January 7, 2025) was an American civil engineer andRepublican politician fromOklahoma. A member of theChickasaw Nation, McCaleb served in several positions in theOklahoma state government and then as the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs underPresidentGeorge W. Bush.
Neal McCaleb, a citizen of theChickasaw Nation, was born inOklahoma City, Oklahoma, on June 30, 1935 to Burt and Zelma McCaleb.[1] His father was the director of theOklahoma Department of Transportation.[2]
McCaleb graduated from Putnam City High School in 1953 and received bachelor's degree inCivil Engineering fromOklahoma State University (then known as Oklahoma A&M College) in 1957.[1] Prior to entering politics, McCaleb was a practicingcivil engineer.[2] From 1967 to 1972 he served on the Oklahoma Indian Affairs Commission.[3] In 1975, McCaleb was named the charter Chairman of theAmerican Indian Council of Architects and Engineers.[2]
McCaleb was elected as aRepublican to represent the 35th district of theOklahoma House of Representatives in 1974 succeeding Jan Turner. He was succeeded in office bySteve Sill in 1983.[4] In 1978, McCaleb's colleagues elected him House Minority Leader. He remained in that position until his retirement from the Legislature. In1982, he unsuccessfully ran forGovernor of Oklahoma.[5]
Governor of OklahomaHenry Bellmon appointed McCaleb to serve as the State's firstSecretary of Transportation.[6] The post was created following the passage of theExecutive Branch Reform Act of 1986.[citation needed] In addition to his service as Secretary, Bellmon appointed him to serve concurrently as Director of theOklahoma Department of Transportation. McCaleb served in both positions until the end of Bellmon's term in 1991.[2]
During his tenure, he oversaw the building of theCherokee Turnpike,Kilpatrick Turnpike,Creek Turnpike, andChickasaw Turnpike. Following the end of Bellmon's term in 1991, McCaleb became the President of the Oklahoma Good Roads and Transportation Association, alobbying group dedicated to advocating safe, efficient and affordable state streets, roads and highways. He served as president until 1995.[5]
In 1995, incumbentGovernor of OklahomaDavid Walters chose not to seek re-election as Governor.[7] RepublicanFrank Keating was elected to succeed him in that position.[8] Keating appointed McCaleb to serve as hisSecretary of Transportation. Additionally, Keating appointed McCaleb as the head of both theOklahoma Department of Transportation and theOklahoma Turnpike Authority. McCaleb remained in all three positions until July 2001 when he resigned to take join theGeorge W. Bush administration.[5] Keating appointedHerschal Crow ofTulsa to succeed him as Secretary.[9]
During his tenure he oversaw the extension of theKilpatrick Turnpike and theH. E. Bailey Turnpike.[5] He also supported Oklahoma's Capital Improvement Plan which allocated funds tostate highways and oversaw the opening of theHeartland Flyer.[10]
McCaleb was appointed by PresidentRichard Nixon to serve on theNational Council on Indian Opportunities from 1972 to 1974.[3] He was later appointed by PresidentRonald Reagan to the Indian Reservation Economies Commission.[6]
As a member of theChickasaw Nation, McCaleb was appointed by RepublicanPresidentGeorge W. Bush in 2001 to be the AssistantSecretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs in theDepartment of the Interior under Secretary of the InteriorGale Norton.[6] As the head of theBureau of Indian Affairs, McCaleb was charged with the administration and management of 56 million acres (230,000 km2) of land held in trust by the United States government forNative Americans, Native Americantribes, andAlaska Natives.[11]
McCaleb remained in that position until November 2002, when he returned home to Oklahoma. He resigned after being held in contempt of court by JudgeRoyce Lamberth alongsideGale Norton for violating court orders, but the charges were later dismissed on appeal.[3]
After leaving federal government service, McCaleb began work as advisor toBill Anoatubby, Governor of the Chickasaw Nation.[6] McCaleb was tasked by Anoatubby with the development of long-term economic development plans and policy.[5] Anoatubby appointed McCaleb to the board of directors of Chickasaw Community Bank[a] a financial industry firm completely owned by the Chickasaw Nation.[13] Anoatubby also made McCaleb the chairman of the board for Chickasaw Nation Industries, a wholly owned subentity of the Nation responsible for promoting economic development for the tribe.[2]
McCaleb was married and had four children and thirteen grandchildren.[6] He died on January 7, 2025, at the age of 89.[1]
McCaleb was a member of theOklahoma Hall of Fame, theChickasaw Hall of Fame, and theOklahoma State University College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology Hall of Fame.[6][14]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jan Turner | Oklahoma State Representative 1975–1983 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minority Leader ofOklahoma House of Representatives 1979–1983 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Position established | Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation Under GovernorHenry Bellmon 1987–1991 | Succeeded by Delmas Ford |
| Preceded by | Director of theOklahoma Department of Transportation Under GovernorHenry Bellmon 1987–1991 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Delmas Ford | Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation Under GovernorFrank Keating 1995–2001 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Director of theOklahoma Department of Transportation Under GovernorFrank Keating 1995–2001 | |
| Preceded by | Director of theOklahoma Turnpike Authority Under GovernorFrank Keating 1995–2001 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs Under PresidentGeorge W. Bush 2001–2003 | Succeeded by |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
