Gene Underwood was born on April 5, 1934, near Tishomingo, Oklahoma, to parents Joe and Mary Underwood. After graduating from Russett High School, he went on to attend Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas. Gene worked for many years at the Oklahoma School for the Deaf and served as a tribal legislator. He loved the outdoors and with family members researched and built an authentic dugout canoe. He took great pride in serving the Chickasaw Nation. Gene worked for many years at the Oklahoma School for the Deaf and served as a tribal legislator. He loved the outdoors and with family members researched and built an authentic dugout canoe. He took great pride in serving the Chickasaw Nation.