A father, an educator, a musician, and so much more-Miami tribe of Oklahoma Chief Floyd Leonard's legacy runs deep at Miami University and in his tribe despite his death earlier this month.

Bobbe Burke, Miami University's coordinator of Miami University tribe relations knew the chief personally and was impressed with the relationships he maintained throughout his lifetime.

"Do you know what I mean when I say work a room?" Burke asked when describing Leonard.

Leonard, chief of the Miami tribe of Oklahoma, died March 8 at the age of 82. Yet, his charisma, leadership and dedication to education will be remembered throughout the Miami Native American Nation and Miami.

Leonard's son, Miami management professor and Miami tribe member Joseph Leonard, remembers his father's talent to connect with a wide range of people.

"He could meet with political leaders in D.C. or meet with tribal members or he could interact with someone from the university," he said. "He could talk with (Miami) President (David) Hodge and then talk with a student or someone from the maintenance staff. He could deal with all kinds of people and all levels of people."

The chief spoke at three inaugurations of Miami presidents and has participated in many varied events on campus-from speaking to student groups and lecturing on Miami heritage to coordinating relations with the university.

Many student groups have separately traveled the trip to Miami, Okla. to visit tribal grounds including alternative spring breaks, environmental science students, journalism students and architecture students. Burke or another university representative accompanies the student groups as they are immersed in a different culture.

"Despite everything he had happening around him, despite all the different roles he played, he always stopped and talked to the students and answered questions," Burke said. "He was so good about encouraging people to ask any question. 'No question is stupid' he would say. 'Ask anything you want to know.'"

Joseph Leonard divides his father's life into three parts-education, music and commitment to the tribe.

Floyd Leonard's commitment to education came early in life when he worked his way through college playing string bass in local dance bands. His love for music, sparked in his high school years, continued on through the rest of his life. He was a lifetime member of the American Federation of Musicians and performed with nationally recognized bands and musicians. Leonard performed weekly at tribal headquarters in Miami, Okla. His last concert was in November 2007.

Most of Floyd Leonard's professional life was focused on his appreciation and belief in the power of education. He began his teaching career in a rural, one-room schoolhouse in Missouri as he worked his way through night school towards his undergraduate degree. Leonard served as an elementary school principal for 14 years and an assistant superintendent for 20 years.

Leonard held a Bachelor of Science degree, a master's degree in education and a master's in education specialist from Pittsburg State University. In 2005, Miami awarded the chief an honorary doctor of humane letters degree in education, meaning that Miami waived the traditional degree requirements of study because of his experience and influence.

His daughter-in-law, Etsuko and two grandchildren, Wesley and Mika, are all Miami alumni.

According to Burke, Leonard was always proud that Miami held the name of his tribe and worked patiently with the university to promote a close relationship. Under Leonard's leadership, huge strides have been made to advance university-tribal relations.

In 1991, Leonard and Miami administrators collaborated to establish the Heritage Scholarship, awarded to students from the Miami tribe. The scholarship has helped recruit 56 tribe members to attend the university.

In 2001, the office of student affairs, with the cooperation and support of the tribe and university, established the Myaamia Project. Myammia is designed to research the native Miami language and culture and continue to expose Miami students to the culture for which their university is named.

"I think his support in helping establish the Myammia Project and his strong support of education at all levels is his lasting contribution from both the university's and the tribe's perspective," Joseph Leonard said.

According to Burke, as the university reaches it's bicentennial, it is even more important for Miami students to be aware of the history and events that gave way to the university's founding.

"It's really a better understanding of (the university) history," Burke said.

Floyd Leonard signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2006 with former Miami President James Garland to express each community's intent to expand the relationship, support each other's educational needs, and commit to further progress in projects designed to promote their mutual interests.

Holding many positions in the tribe before becoming chief, Leonard was first elected as a councilperson to the Miami Nation's Business Committee in 1954. He continued on to serve as Second Chief before assuming his position as Chief in 1974 and again his re-election in 1989. Chiefdom is typically a three-year term but because of Leonard's popularity among the tribe, he held the position until his death.

"He offered a consistency with the office and with the tribe," Burke said. "There was a lot of instability over the years. That has a lot to do with how the government treated them (the tribe)… He was committed to them as a person who would fight for the tribe and it's interests. And because he served for so long, he was a person that could be there for them for an extended period of time."

Second Chief Tom Gamble is completing Leonard's remaining term for the next year.

Chief Leonard is survived by his wife, Pat, son Joseph, daughter in law Etsuko and two grandchildren, Wesley and Mika.