Don
Vaughan 


By Jami Custer
Staff Writer

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – After 30 years at Cherokee Nation, Don Vaughan, who serves as director of Evaluation and Compliance, retired from his job on Feb. 26, which he expects will give him more time to do “other meaningful activities.”“My goal is that the activities would include a mixture of work to help others in both physical and spiritual ways, spending more time in recreational and self-fulfilling ways,” he said. “For example, gardening, fishing and hunting and perhaps doing some part-time work on a more discretionary basis than full-time employment allows.”Over the past 30 years, Vaughan has worked seven other positions with the CN, including Special Projects officer interim controller, director of Executive Support, Contracts director, Accounting manager, internal auditor, Accounting supervisor and senior accountant.He said his most memorable experience at CN was during former Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller’s administration. He considered that period a “time of infancy” in the development of “key operational functions” of CN during its growth and expansion. “It essentially involved my delegation to create an executive support unit, which included establishing five separate smaller departments,” he said. Vaughan provided coordination and oversight in the beginning of the tribe’s Self–Governance department, Research and Analysis, including the development of a Geographical Information System, Internal Audit, Employee Training and Planning and Development activities for the tribe’s internal programs. Despite retiring, Vaughan said he doesn’t plan on slowing down his activity level, but continuing to try and make a difference in others people’s lives. “My goal is to remain active and continue trying to do things to help someone else along the way, to enjoy more time with family and friends and to have the flexibility to devote additional efforts to First Baptist Church in Stilwell…,” he said. Vaughan said he would mostly miss seeing the people he has come to know over the years.“Don hired me in December 1989, so I have worked with him for 20 years,” Vickie Hanvey, Self-Governance administrator, said. “He was my boss for many of those years. I think of Don as one of my mentors. We may not have always agreed, but we have a mutual respect and trust.”She added that his character is what sets him apart from others. “He is a ‘by the book’ man with the integrity to back it up.”T.J. Stand, CN Accounting manager, agreed with Hanvey on Vaughan’s character, adding that not only did he operate by the book, but honest as well. “I wish him well and hope his retirement years are happy and long,” Stand said. “He deserves the best.”

Reach Staff Writer Jami Custer at (918) 453-5560 or jami-custer@cherokee.org