Sept. 27, 2023
Recognizing his personal achievements and his tireless dedication to his culture and community, Cyrus Ben, Chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, was recently named Alumnus of the Year at East Central Community College and will be recognized during the college’s Homecoming ceremonies scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 12, on the Decatur campus.
When notified of his selection, Chief Ben said, “I am humbled to be selected for this honor. To be viewed as someone worthy of this award is amazing. It is a great honor to be recognized as an academic and cultural Warrior.”
Ben, who recently began his second term, is the fifth elected Tribal Chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, a federally-recognized tribe of over 11,100 members living on or near 35,000 acres of tribal lands in east central Mississippi. Chief Ben has a 14-year record of public service to the Choctaw Tribal government and Tribal business leadership, including 8 years as Pearl River community’s representative on the Tribal Council prior to being elected as Tribal Chief in July 2019. He served four years as the Tribe’s Secretary-Treasurer and three years as the President of Choctaw-Ikhana, a Tribally-chartered corporation.
Ben has always looked for ways to give back to his community and to the Tribe. It was with careful consideration and encouragement from fellow Tribal Members that he decided to pursue the Office of the Tribal Chief, a position he doesn’t take lightly.
He said, “From a member standpoint, I think of us as a great Tribe. From where we have come from to where we are now, I hope to be part of history in leading the Choctaw People forward so that the next generation can build upon our successes.”
During his first term, Ben worked to strengthen relationships with state officials which led to the passing of several bills including the Regalia bill, Tribal ID bill, and the Tribal car tag. He also served on the state flag commission.
Chief Ben’s younger sister, Cheriena Ben, who also served as Pearl River representative on the Tribal Council and works closely with Policy and Legislative Affairs for the Tribe, said, “Chief Ben is the epitome of leadership. He leads with love and compassion. The reason I believe in Chief Ben is due to him walking his talk. He could work for any group, any state, any government, however he chose MBCI. His loyalty to his people is strong and pure. His ethics are real. He cares. He is threaded into family. He is every stitch in every tribal motif we display. I couldn’t be prouder.”
Chief Ben has also been recognized in Indian Country as an emerging young leader.
In 2009 the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development named Chief Ben to the “Native American 40 Under 40” class. He is a board member for the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service. He also serves as a delegate on the Health Resources and Services Administration Tribal Advisory Council, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity Tribal Advisory Committee. He was named the 2022 Citizen of the Year by the Philadelphia-Neshoba County Community Development Partnership and was presented the 2022 Order of the Golden Arrow award by Mississippi College which is presented to graduates who have accomplished outstanding personal and/or professional achievements during their lifetime.
Chief Ben is an advocate for education and said he is thankful for the Tribal Scholarship program created under the leadership of the late Chief Phillip Martin that allowed Tribal youth to receive full scholarships to college. It was an opportunity that he took advantage of himself and became a first-generation college graduate.
He encourages others to do the same, saying, “Whatever challenge may have been there for others, you can break the barrier and get a degree. Know you have the opportunity of a local community college that you can go to and obtain your goals and dreams. Use it to create your foundation and as a stepping stone to create your next accomplishment.”
He gives much credit to his parents, Jimmy Ben and Karen Ben, for teaching him the importance of working hard and helping him build a strong work ethic. And he said he was fortunate to have teachers and coaches along the way who also helped to shape him as a person.
Ben said East Central offered him not only the opportunity to pursue his education, but to also play a sport he loved, and remain close to home. He was a member of the Warrior Corps student ambassadors and played on the 1996 Warrior football team that won the Golden Isles Bowl and finished 5th in the nation.
“Many of the events that occurred in my life during my two years at East Central helped prepare me for situations I would have to overcome in the future.”
An active member of his community, he serves as a coach and mentor for local youth sports teams. As an avid supporter for local youth sports and activities, he has served as a volunteer coach and team/field sponsor at Northside Park for soccer, baseball and softball. He has been a volunteer coach for Native American Youth Baseball and Softball teams. He also provides volunteer services and is an advocate for youth with special needs. Chief Ben is a supporter and advocate for the Diamond Dreams program and as part of his commitment to disable youth, he ensured the Choctaw Sportsplex park area was completely ADA compliant, the only park of its kind in the State of Mississippi. He was a volunteer coach for Warrior Youth Football its inception year. He and his wife served as youth leaders at First Pentecostal Church of Philadelphia for 10 years. Chief Ben was a National Board member for the Native Big Brothers Big Sisters Organization. He has been a long supporter of Local Boys and Girls Club organizations. His work with Tribal youth promotes peer and elder mentorships, personal goal-setting and an appreciation of Choctaw Self-Determination. In 2020 Chief Ben was announced as a recipient of the Governor’s Initiative for Volunteer Excellence (GIVE) Award recognizing his volunteerism within the State of Mississippi.
Tribal Chief Ben was a small business owner in Neshoba County for 16 years (Choctaw Office Supply). He continues to work with local government and state agencies to help provide better way of life for all citizens, not just his tribal communities. This includes but is not limited to law enforcement and business opportunities.
ECCC President Dr. Brent Gregory said, “Chief Ben is an outstanding alumnus who represents his family, his community, and East Central Community College well. He continues to partner with the college today in educational advancements that benefit both the tribe and the surrounding areas.”
Tribal Chief Ben can be found most weekends at a ballfield as a coach, parent, or supporter, sometimes at the same time. It is not uncommon to find him in the stands of local school games. Chief Ben knows the importance of supporting Choctaw students and athletes locally and across the country.
An enrolled member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and a fluent speaker of his native Choctaw language, Chief Ben is a life-long resident of Neshoba County and the Pearl River community, where he resides with his wife TaRita, who is also an ECCC alumna, and their children, Brodie, Eden and Selah.
A graduate of Mississippi College, Chief Ben earned his Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Management in 2001. He earned an Associate’s degree in Business from East Central Community College in 1998.
