Frankie Hargis

Hargis was born July 19, 1965, in Claremore, Oklahoma and raised in Stilwell.^[1][2] She graduated from Stilwell High School and later earned a B.A. in education from Northeastern State University.^[1][2]

Hargis worked for the Cherokee Nation and Cherokee Nation Enterprises in various capacities.^[1] In 2006, Hargas supported limiting Cherokee citizenship to those with Cherokee blood, arguing that Freedmen, descendants of former slaves, should also be excluded.^[3] She backed the Cherokee Nation tribal council's amendment requiring Indian blood for citizenship.^[3]

Her political career began in 2011 when she was elected to the tribal council in a special election, representing District 7 (western Adair County).^[1] She succeeded Joe Crittenden.^[4] Hargis was re-elected in 2013 and again in 2017.^[1] During her tenure, she secured $80,000 for a domestic violence shelter in Stilwell, $4.2 million for a child development center in Stilwell, $11 million for the expansion of the Wilma P. Mankiller Clinic, and $1 million for roads and bridges in Adair County.^[1] She sponsored 333 pieces of legislation.^[5] In November 2018, Hargis resigned from her Tribal Council seat after being selected by principal chief Bill John Baker to become the Cherokee Nation's Registrar.^[6] Canaan Duncan won a special election to serve the rest of Hargis council term.^[7] She held the registrar position until her death.^[1]

Hargis had two sons.^[1] She died unexpectedly in Stilwell on August 15, 2021, at the age of 56.^[1][2]