Former Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe chairman Alvin Moyle, second from left, with former Sens. Harry Reid, center, and John Ensign, right.
Alvin Moyle, former chairman of the Fallon Shoshone Paiute Tribe, was remembered as not only a man who had strong convictions but also one who had a love for the land and its people, rodeo and service in the U.S. Marine Corps.
A funeral service was held last week inside a packed tribal gymnasium for the 83-year-old Moyle, who died June 20. The funeral began almost a half-hour late because of the number of people waiting in line to pay their final respects.
While family members and longtime friends praised Moyle, it was the words of his niece that captured Moyle’s zest for life. His friends and constituents considered Moyle a man of the people, while Nevada’s elected officials respected his leadership.
Andrea Reich said her uncle developed many passions during his lifetime ranging from playing the guitar and singing to making a difference in people’s lives. Reich said her uncle grew up on the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone reservation and would often hunt with his grandfather at the Stillwater marsh.
The formative years of his schooling, though, were spent in Tuolonome, Calif., the same area where his father grew up.
Moyle family photo
Alvin Moyle enlisted in the U.S. Marines.
While he was nurturing his interest in the arts, Reich said Moyle also excelled at football although he was not the biggest player on the field. Moyle continued to refine his talents in art by drawing caricatures and cartoons for friends.
Reich said Moyle worked as a carpenter, dabbled in architectural and rode the bulls in rodeo. He also had a patriotic side.
“He served his country as a Marine in the U.S. military where he participated in boxing and served his Tribal Nation in many capabilities,” she said.
Reich said her uncle felt it was a duty to serve his country, and he enjoyed being a Marine. It was during this time Moyle was asked about boxing.
“As a youth, Alvin knew the skill of boxing from his Uncle Bud and was eager to show off his skills,” Reich recalled in her eulogy. “He quickly became the top welterweight contender. His ability and wins gave him Golden Gloves stature, and he was. Asked to re-enlist and train for the Pan Am games. As tempting as it was, Alvin missed his family in Fallon and desired the one thing he hadn’t accomplished yet — his 8-second ride.”
In order to receive points, a bull rider must stay on the beast for at least 8 seconds.
Moyle returned to Churchill County where he married and began his family. He learned the trades in masonry and construction, and he was involved in building the Louie’s complex in Fallon. His skills took him to various locations in the West.
The love of rodeo, though, was embedded in his heart, and he continued to be involved with the sport into his senior years.
“His last-minute entry into a Senior Rodeo in Sonora, Calif., would not only be his most memorable but his final ride,” Reich said of his 6 seconds on the bull.
Reich said her uncle fell short and wound up suffering broken ribs, a punctured lung, broken clavicle and jaw.
Steve Ranson / LVN
Lines of mourners wait to enter the tribal gym for Alvin Moyle’s funeral.
Year later after retiring from masonry and rodeo, Moyle entered tribal governance. Reich said he proudly served the Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe for 22 years, 16 years as their tribal chairman.
“His contributions to the tribe was an integral part of their success in making the tribe better positioned for the future,” Reich said. “He believed in networking and building relations with other tribal nations. His devotion to his people and native people across the nation gave him the ability to speak with many dignitaries and sit on numerous committees.”
Moyle was instrumental with the Fallon Tribal Development Corporation’s ration to assist the Tribe’s economic development efforts. He served as the corporation’s first president. He also testified before a select committee of Congress in Washington D.C., and in Federal District Court, by presenting a brief on Government to Government relationship with the State of Nevada and the governor at the time, Kenny Guinn.
Moyle family photo
Alvin Moyle loved rodeos, especially bull riding.
Moyle also regularly attended meetings as the leader of the Tribe at the White House when President Barack Obama served and testified affecting the FPST. He was also a key figure in the construction of the Fallon Tribal Health Center.
Reich said her uncle enjoyed the times he spent with family, and for everyone else, he had a classification for each of them.
“You were either a friend, a really good friend or a brother. He was a hard worker, artist, musician, boxer, leader, and most important a cowboy,” she added.
Reich also had meaningful words for those who knew him.
“Alvin was a role model and his career and path should not solely be his legacy but a goal to all who had the privilege to know him,” she added.
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