Chickasaw Foundation Receives Generous Donation from Houston and Dianna Nutt

The Chickasaw Foundation was the recipient of a wonderful donation, thanks to the generosity of Houston and Diana Nutt.

Both are native Oklahomans and Diana is a proud Chickasaw citizen. Houston is a nationally-recognized head football coach, starting his career at Murray State College in Tishomingo, OK and going on to coach at Boise State University, the University of Arkansas and the University of Mississippi.

According to Diana, Houston played in a golf tournament affiliated with the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl with other active and former coaches of the Southeastern Conference. This year, Mr. Nutt won third place and Chick-fil-A donated his teams’ winnings to the charity of his choice.

“It is such a generous organization and Chick-fil-A made the donation to the Chickasaw Foundation at Houston’s request. He felt great about this donation since his wife, four children and grandson are Chickasaw,” Mrs. Nutt said.

The influence of this decision to donate to the Chickasaw Foundation was Diana’s mother passing in 2006. “It was a donation made in memory of Armedia Thomas. She was so proud of her Chickasaw heritage and passed that pride on to her children and grandchildren,” Mrs. Nutt explained. “It was comforting to us to make this important donation—she would have loved that. She knew of the invaluable work of the Chickasaw Foundation.”

Diana has kept her eye on activities of the Chickasaw Foundation—which is celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year—and is impressed by the organization.

“I have always felt proud to contribute to the Chickasaw Foundation because of the work it does for Chickasaws, the communities in the Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma and the country. The educational opportunities and scholarship programs they have offered to so many people are incredible,” she said. “The food pantries have helped so many in need. I have always been so impressed by the stories I have read in the Chickasaw Times. Knowing Chickasaw citizens benefit along with many other people, communities, and organizations makes donating to the Chickasaw Foundation so important to us.”

She has ventured to the Homelands to take part in archaeological digs with the Chickasaw Nation and hosted visits to the Homelands taken by Chickasaw Nation legislators and elders. Mrs. Nutt said the family donated to the Chickasaw Foundation after tornadoes devastated Oklahoma City, Norman, and Moore in 1999 and 2013.

“I was so moved by the swift action the Chickasaw Foundation and Chickasaw Nation took to help so many people,” she said. “Our family made donations at that time to support the Chickasaw Foundation’s swift efforts in assisting with clean-up, providing meals and helping restore communities.”

“We were born and raised in Oklahoma. Houston and I graduated from Oklahoma State University. Of all the places we have lived, I remain an ‘Okie’ at heart,” she said.

The Chickasaw Foundation will be forever grateful for Houston and Diana’s kindness and compassion!