Billy Cypress, longest-serving Chairman and leader of Miccosukee Tribe, dies at 74

Billy Cypress, who was the longest-serving Chairman of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, has died. He spent decades advocating for tribal sovereignty and environmental protection of their land.

Cypress was first elected to the Miccosukee Business Council in 1973, serving for over a decade before being elected Chairman. He held the office for over 26 years.

The Miccosukee Tribe announced that Billy Cypress died on Feb. 28 at age 74.

Current Chairman Talbert Cypress, who previously served as Tribal Secretary alongside him, in a statement said: “He always recognized the honor it was to serve as Chairman for our people and carried himself with immense pride. There are few who understand the responsibility of this seat, but only he served for almost 30 years. Chairman Billy Cypress: Thank you for your humor, your dedication, and your service.”

The Miccosukee Tribe’s statement highlighted his life-long commitment and dedication to the Tribe.

According to the Tribe, under Cypress’s leadership, the Tribe led significant legal and political battles, including fights in Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court. He was a fierce opponent of Big Sugar’s water pollution, championing stringent pollution-control standards in the Everglades that secured billions in state and federal investment. His advocacy played a key role in restoring historic water flows and ending engineered flooding in the region.

“I mourn the passing of Billy Cypress, a visionary and longtime Chairman of the Miccosukee Tribe,” said Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava in a statement. “His decades of service transformed the Tribe, expanded its reach, and strengthened advocacy for our Everglades.”

Senator Rick Scott also expressed condolences calling Cypress a “good friend” who will be “greatly missed.

Cypress also fought for the preservation of Miccosukee culture and education, ensuring that the Tribe maintained the right to teach its young people traditionally.

He brought thousands of acres back into tribal control and reestablished jurisdiction over areas of the Everglades National Park from which the Tribe had been displaced in the 1940s. His diplomatic efforts led to the establishment of the Miccosukee Tribe’s first embassy and the recognition of Miccosukee passports by foreign nations, setting a precedent for tribal sovereignty on an international stage.

The Tribe shared a testimony from Cypress before Congress in 1997, Cypress said:

“We’re not asking for much. Just leave us alone and we’ll leave you alone. We’ll protect the environment, protect water quality, assist in Everglades restoration... Miccosukees hope to see just one law — yours and mine — and that we’re all equal under it together.”

“As the Tribe’s longest-serving executive, his leadership left a lasting impact on South Central Florida,” said Congressman Scott Franklin in a statement.

During his tenure, Cypress played a pivotal role in establishing the Tribe’s gaming operations and strengthening its administrative departments.

Cypress also faced legal challenges, including a high-profile dispute with the federal government over taxation of the Miccosukee Tribe’s casino profits. In 2009, he lost his position as chairman but regained the chairmanship in a 2016 special election, where he took a strong stand against federal taxation policies affecting the Tribe.

“The former Chairman is remembered by his friends and family as funny, charming, and lighthearted, despite taking his role seriously as an elected official,” the Tribe said in a statement. “He always made time to talk to family, friends, and his fellow Tribal members.

This story was originally published March 1, 2025 at 2:30 PM.