[5] The starkly contrasting influences from his mother and grandmother conflicted Keeler in his early life, but he ultimately successfully assimilated into white society.

He began working part-time for Phillips Petroleum on various construction sites at age sixteen while still in high school, and continued during the summers while attending college.

While living there, he met Ruby Lucille Hamilton, who had graduated from the nursing school at Trinity Lutheran Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri.

They remained in Kansas City, where their first two sons were born, until 1939, when he transferred to the Phillips refinery in Borger, Texas as chief chemist.

[3][a] His success with Phillips Petroleum drew the attention of the federal government and displayed him as a leader who could be appointed to higher positions.

[3] [b] Keeler continued to build on the Milam model, and would remain in the chief position until 1975, having been reappointed by Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon.

[7] During a period from 1945 to 1972 he also served as chairman of the executive committee of the Texas Cherokees and Associate Bands and was instrumental in getting the 1836 Treaty of Bowles Village brought before the Indian Claims Commission.

[8] Alaskan Governor Walter Hickel appointed Keeler chairman of a task force to find ways to improve utilization of native labor.

[8] Also under President Johnson, the Secretary of the Interior, Stewart Udall, appointed Keeler to head a group to with the focus of reorganizing the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

[8] Keeler's success in the oil industry and work with the federal government coincided with his older, more conservative upbringing.

"[9] Some consider Keeler to be the most influential person to the Cherokee nation aside from John Ross, who battled the removal of Indians and fought against the "Trail of Tears".

Although Keeler would eventually manage to create great leaps in Cherokee infrastructure and life, he did not promote native sovereignty in the late 1950s.

[10] Keeler helped establish the Cherokee Foundation and through legal legislation attained $14,789,000 from the federal government over land dispute.

[1] The W. W. Keeler Complex in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, is the seat of Cherokee tribal government, and was named in honor of the late chief.