Agua Caliente Tribal Chairman Richard Milanovich Dies At 69
Richard Milanovich — the longtime leader of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians — died at Eisenhower Medical Center on Sunday after a long fight with cancer.
He was 69 years old.
“My father really was a great man and leader. This is a very trying time for us all including the countless lives he touched over the years,” said Milanovich’s daughter, Tristan.
Starting as a member of the tribal council in 1978, Milanovich quickly ascended through the ranks. He served as secretary from 1982 to 1984, when he was elected chairman. It’s then that Milanovich began overseeing major change not only in the tribe, but the western part of the Coachella Valley.
His first major undertaking was the purchase of the Spa Hotel in Palm Springs in 1992. That was soon followed up with the addition of the Spa Resort Casino in 1995.
VIDEO: A Celebration of Richard Milanovich
In Rancho Mirage, Milanovich oversaw development and construction of the Agua Caliente Casino in 2001, as well as the opening of the new $90 million Spa Resort Casino in 2003 and the Spa Hotel?s Well Spirit Center Fitness Center in 2004.
“These projects and enterprises have brought a much-needed boost to the Palm Springs and Coachella Valley economy, but more important to the tribe itself, the revenue generated by tribal developments has allowed the tribe to develop self-sufficiency through education, cultural preservation, housing and health care programs,” according to the website.
He also oversaw the construction and opening of the Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa?s new hotel and expansion in 2008, followed by the completion of the entertainment venue, The Show, in February of 2009.
Milanovich also served as the chairman of the Advisory Committee to the Office of Special Trustee for the U.S. Department of Interior, which oversees the federal government?s fiduciary responsibilities to manage tribal trust funds.
In 2004, he was appointed to the Native American Stewardship Committee for the prestigious Autry National Center. In addition, Mr. Milanovich has served as a member of the Bureau of Land Management?s California Desert Advisory Council, and the Native American Heritage Commission. The tribal leader served as an advocate for HIV prevention with the Desert AIDS Project for more than 10 years.
“He was one of the fathers of philanthropy in the Coachella Valley,” said David Brinkman, the CEO of the Desert AIDS Project.
Milanovich and the tribe have hosted City of Hope’s “Hike 4 Hope” each year at the Indian Canyons trail. The hiking event supports women’s cancer programs at the foundation. Organizers said they’re grateful to have had Milanovich’s support for the past 14 years. Eileen Stern, the founder of the event, said Milanovich may have lost his battle, but he brought hope to others fighting cancer.
Milanovich was also a partner with the Palm Springs International Film Festival — welcoming directors, actors and audience members alongside the city’s mayor and film festival chairman at festival events.
He also was a member of the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy; a founding member of the Santa Rosa Scenic Committee; and an appointed member to the National Monument Advisory Board for the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto National monument and a lifetime honorary member of the Desert Riders. Milanovich also represented the Tribe as its voting member on the Coachella Valley Association of Governments Executive Committee.
Milanovich served in the United States Army from 1960 to 1963. In 1994, he returned to school to fulfill a lifelong ambition to secure his college degree and received a Bachelor of Science in Business and Management from the University of Redlands in 1996.
“To care for the environment, care for the less fortunate, and treat others with dignity and respect. He stood for all three of those things,” said Brinkman.
Milanovich’s children have set up a memorial page on Facebook for members of the community to remember him.
