Mon Feb 4, 2013

Chief Oscala Clayton Sylestine, the principal chief of the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Tribe of Texas, succumbed to illness and passed away on Thursday, Jan. 31. He was 80 years old.

He was elected in 1992 and installed in a colorful traditional ceremony a the lifetime chief on Jan. 1, 1993. He was a third generation descendant of Alabama Sub-Chief Colabe. He is survived by his wife, Ethelyn, two sons and two daughters with numerous grandchildren.