Judge George Dixie Colbert

Judge George Dixie Colbert was a man of integrity who dedicated his life to the service of his country, family, the judicial process and the Chickasaw Nation.

Born in 1925, Mr. Colbert was the grandson of Dixie H. Colbert, a member of the last Chickasaw Nation legislature before statehood and whose Chickasaw allotment encompassed what is now the town of Sulphur.

In his early life, he attended Carter Seminary School in Ardmore and later Sulphur Public Schools. To earn money to help feed his family, Colbert began boxing at Oklahoma City’s Wheeler Park.

Soon, he began boxing for Chief Parris’ Indian Club, where he became a two-time Golden Gloves and Amateur Athletic Union champion. Competing in 10 tournaments, he won seven times and came in runner-up in the other three. He was awarded both the Oklahoma State and Oklahoma City Golden Gloves titles.

At the age of 16, Colbert joined the U.S. Coast Guard and during WWII, he served in the Philippine Southwest Pacific theatre. Upon discharge, he attended Central High School in Oklahoma City, graduating in 1946 and Oklahoma City University Law School, graduating in 1954.

Throughout his life, he used his law degree to serve the Chickasaw Nation and its people. He was appointed Murray County District Attorney and later Murray County Associate District Judge, a position he held until 1971. Later, he became district judge for the 20th judicial district of Oklahoma, a position he held with honor and integrity until his death in 1980.

Colbert was proud of his Chickasaw heritage and made it a point to instill that pride in his family.