DENVER, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Ernest House Sr., a Ute tribal leader known for his advocacy across party and tribal lines, died following a motorcycle accident in Colorado, officials said.
House, who served more than 30 years in Ute Mountain Ute tribal leadership, was returning from a motorcycle rally Saturday when he was hit by a car outside of Cortez, Colo., The Denver Post reported.
He was taken to a hospital in Farmington, N.M., where he died, the newspaper said.
House, 65, was a member of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe, Weeminuche Band, and the grandson of Chief Jack House, the tribe's last hereditary chief.
He was first elected to the Ute Mountain Tribal Council in 1979 and was elected chairman in 1982, serving four four-year terms as tribal chairman.
Former U.S. Attorney Troy Eid called House's death "tragic beyond words."
"Indian Country has lost a brilliant, courageous and inspired leader, as has the entire State of Colorado," said Eid, who has worked closely with the tribe for many years.
