W Richard West, Jr.

Walter Richard Rick West Jr . (born January 6, 1943 in San Bernardino, California, January 6, 1943) is the president and CEO of the Autry National Center in Los Angeles. He was the founding director of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, retiring from the position in 2007. He is also a citizen of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes in Oklahoma and a Peace Chief of the Southern Cheyenne. His professional life has been devoted to serving the American Indian community on cultural,...See more

Walter Richard Rick West Jr . (born January 6, 1943 in San Bernardino, California, January 6, 1943) is the president and CEO of the Autry National Center in Los Angeles. He was the founding director of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, retiring from the position in 2007. He is also a citizen of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes in Oklahoma and a Peace Chief of the Southern Cheyenne. His professional life has been devoted to serving the American Indian community on cultural, artistic, educational, legal and governmental issues. See less