Elder Interview-William Bill Gollnick
A.2008.001.172 PP
Name/Title
Elder Interview-William "Bill" GollnickEntry/Object ID
A.2008.001.172Tags
Missing, Needs Accession Sheet, Needs Location, Needs PhotoDescription
Gollnick, William “Bill” Arthur Born 01/13/1950 in South Bend, Indiana Parents: Josephine (Metoxen) Gollnick and Harold "Jim" E. Gollnick Maternal Grandparents: Agnes (Skenandore) Metoxen and Edward Metoxen His grandmother Agnes went to 3rd grade. She was a very hard worker and took care of her family. His grandparents lived in Wittenberg for a while. His grandfather built a house for them in Wittenberg. His grandmother never worked out of home. He never really got to know his grandfather Metoxen to well because he passed away 1 week before he could get his social security. His grandmother only spoke Oneida. They spoke no English not until Josephine slipped and spoke Oneida in school one day. He got locked in the basement the whole day of school. His mother went to school at Flandreau. She met his father in Milwaukee where she was working. His father passed away when Bill was 2 years old. He passed away from a Cerebral Hemorrhage. His mom use to go school half the day and work the other half. The boys were expected to farm and learn how to do the blue collar jobs. His mother completed the job that she was doing in Chicago and then she moved back to Oneida. His father was into Theatrical work until he passed. His mother worked as a Telephone Operator for a while. Bill started school in Chicago in 1956. He was the only Indian child in that school. He finished school and high school in Chicago and Indiana. In 1968 at 18 years old he joined the Marine Corp. One of the guys that he worked with had meningitis so he was placed in quarantine. He ended up with a bad cold and got to go home on leave. He spent 2 years in the Marines and spent the entire tour in Cuba. He got a phone call that his step-father passed away so he went home on a personal leave. He got out of the Marines and went back to school in Chicago. He finished his first semester then his mother injured her back so he moved back to Oneida with his mother. In 1973 he got married to Jenny they met while recruiting. They have 3 children. They took in 3 of her sister’s children when she passed away. He now works with the Oneida tribe. He works in different departments with the tribe. He also has gone back to school too be able to work in the programs. Right now for the past 5 years he’s been elected at acting General Manager.Recording Type
Audio/VisualCollection
Elder InterviewsCataloged By
Gerzetich, Courtney (Cottrell)Category
Digital Media, Military