Chief Joe Deerfoot of Gallup, NM

by Patsy Jean Moore Huddleston

Chief Joe Deerfoot operated a trading post and trailer court on Route 66 in Gallup, N.M. He was an entertainer, dancing at trading posts and emceeing summer shows for tourists at Gallup's Sante Fe Plaza. He led Gallup's Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial parade riding his paint stallion Bobby. The horse was trained to perform tricks and would bow and rear for the crowds.

Chief Deerfoot and his wife, Ora, were wonderful Christian people. While I lived at their trailer court during 1959 and '60, they would take me to church with them.

Chief Joe would let me help him out in his trading post. I remember that he would get silver necklaces from the reservation. They would be knotted up and he would ask me to untangle them for him. "Patsy, my fingers are too big. You want to help me with these?" Of course I did.

I also recall how he liked to sneak up on my mother. He would softly approach, wearing his mocassins, and never failed to scare her. "It's my Indian blood," he would say, then he'd laugh and laugh.

Chief Deerfoot was born in 1889 and died in 1966. He is buried at Hillcrest Cemetery in Gallup.

"Chief Deerfoot On His Paint Stallion"

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Joe Deerfoot Is Dead at 77   Joe Deerfoot, Gallup resident since 1940, died at PHS hos- pital in Gallup July 4.   He resided at 2012 E. 66. He was born in New Mexico in 1889, and spent most of his life as an Indian trader.   Funeral services will be held Thursday at 2:30 p.m. in the Rollie Mortuary Chapel with  Rev. Bruce M Gardner of the Calvary Baptist Church offici- ating. Burial will be at Hillcrest Cemetery. He is survived by his wife, Ora Deerfoot.

The Huddleston Family Website  >>> Chief Joe Deerfoot