The Man Who Would Be Chief

The man who would be chiefJames Billie invented the concept of the Indian casino and turned the Seminoles from an impoverished tribe to one flush with cash. For his efforts he was booted outHe was a Seminole Indian who grew up in the Everglades. He slept in the swamp under a blanket of pine needles and killed gators with his bare hands. He fought for his coun­try in Vietnam. Back in the Everglades he killed a panther in the Big Cypress In­dian Reservation, then skinned and ate it. When he was ar...