Emmons, Glenn Leonidas, 1895-1980

Banker and U.S. commissioner of Indian affairs.

Glenn L. Emmons was born in 1895 and moved to Albuquerque with his family in 1905. He began his career in the banking business in Gallup, N.M. in 1919. From 1935 to 1964 he was president and chairman of the board of the First State Bank of Gallup. It was through his involvement in banking that he began to know his Indian neighbors, becoming involved with the financial aspects of their business and personal problems. Emmons was appointed Commissioner of Indian Affairs in 1953. He identified poor health conditions, poor education, and poor economic development as the three major problems facing Indians across the nation. Emmons did not support forced relocation; he advocated reclamation of Indian lands, encouraging development of industry, including oil, uranium, and coal leasing. He retired from this post in 1961. Glenn L. Emmons died on March 14, 1980.

Glenn L. Emmons, born in 1895, moved to Albuquerque with his family in 1905. He began his career in the banking business in Gallup, N.M. in 1919. From 1935 to 1964 he was president and chairman of the board of the First State Bank of Gallup. It was through his involvement in banking that he began to know his Indian neighbors, becoming involved with the financial aspects of their business and personal problems. Emmons was appointed Commissioner of Indian Affairs in 1953. Emmons did not support forced relocation; he advocated reclamation of Indian lands, encouraging development of industry, including oil, uranium, and coal leasing. He retired from this post in 1961. Glenn L. Emmons died on March 14, 1980.

Glenn Emmons with Navajo man. Part of the Glenn Leonidas Emmons Pictorial Collection PICT 000-308, (Box 1, Folder 2).

Glenn L. Emmons was born in Atmore, Alabama on August 15, 1895. He moved to Albuquerque with his family in 1905. He graduated from Albuquerque public schools, and then attended the University of New Mexico for three years. Emmons left UNM before earning his degree in order to serve in the military for 2 years, during World War I. Moving to Gallup in 1919, he began his career in the banking business, first as a transit clerk, later as cashier, bookkeeper, and teller. In 1922, he and his older brother joined the newly organized First State Bank of Gallup, where his brother became president, and Glenn, vice president. Glenn was president and chairman of the board from 1935 to 1964. It was through his involvement in banking that Glenn Emmons began to know his Indian neighbors. He became involved with the financial aspects of their business and personal problems.

Emmons was appointed Commissioner of Indian Affairs by President Eisenhower in 1953, after being unanimously endorsed by the 74 member Navajo Tribal Council. After visiting with 150 groups of Indians in the fall of 1953, Emmons identified poor health conditions, poor education, and poor economic development as the three major problems facing Indians across the nation. As Commissioner, he was directed to enact programs designed to bring tribal groups to a level where they would need only minimal federal assistance. Emmons' programs effectively increased federal assistance to Indians. Under Emmons' leadership, the Bureau of Indian Affairs health programs were transferred to the U.S. Public Health Service, where there was more funding, personnel, and facilities, which would result in improved services to Indians. Emmons increased government funding for education, which especially helped the Navajo. His programs included converting mobile home trailers into schools and encouraging the public schools to admit Indian children. Emmons also instituted adult education classes, primarily to teach English language skills to adult Indians, and initiated vocational job training programs.

Emmons did not support forced relocation; he advocated reclamation of Indian lands, encouraging development of industry, including oil, uranium, and coal leasing. More roads and bridges were built on Indian lands during his tenure than all other commissioners combined. In 1957, Emmons received the Distinguished Service Award from the Department of Interior for "outstanding achievement in materially improving the health protection, the educational facilities, and the economic prospects for Indian people." Emmons retired from this post in 1961.

Emmons served on the University of New Mexico Board of Regents (1930-1933). In 1977, he was presented with the Zimmerman Award and an honorary doctor of laws degree from the University of New Mexico. Emmons ran unsuccessfully for the Republican Gubernatorial nomination in 1944. He was involved in a variety of banking, civic, and church organizations, including the New Mexico Bankers Association, Gallup Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club, Inter-tribal Indian Association, School of American Research, Wheelright Museum, and American Legion. Glenn L. Emmons died on March 14, 1980, at the age of 84.