Flagstaff • Milton Bluehouse Sr., who served six months as Navajo Nation president during a time of political upheaval, has died.
Bluehouse died Monday morning weeks after doctors discovered he had late-stage cancer, said his son, Milton Bluehouse Jr. He was 82.
Bluehouse became president in July 1998 after two tribal presidents facing ethics charges left office. Albert Hale agreed to resign rather than face allegations he misused tribal funds. Hale's vice president, Thomas Atcitty, took over and appointed Bluehouse to be second in command.
Within months, the Navajo Nation Council removed Atcitty for accepting free trips and golf games from companies doing business with the tribe.