Tony Reyna has spent the last 94 years of his life working to ensure that the world will be a better place after he's gone. As the former governor of Taos Pueblo said, "I have served my country, the state of New Mexico, and most importantly the people of Taos Pueblo."

It was during World War II that Reyna truly learned about service and sacrifice when he endured walking more than 60 miles in what became known as the Bataan Death March. Reyna spent 3 1/2 years as a POW in a Japanese prison camp. That experience is forever etched in his mind.

"There were 11 soldiers from Taos Pueblo that were captured and only five of us survived," he said. "During that time I contracted beriberi disease and to this day I still have pain in my legs," he said. Beriberi is caused by vitamin deficiency, but its effects can linger.

When Reyna returned from the war, he began taking on a leadership role as he worked to protect the water rights for Taos Pueblo, as well as the preservation of the adobe dwellings and the construction of a health clinic. He became tribal secretary for the pueblo, then lieutenant governor, and served two terms as governor.

"I knew that if I was going to help my people I had to be involved in the greater community, so I reached out and became a member of the Taos School Board, the Millicent Rogers Museum and a judge for the Santa Fe Indian Market."

Tony Reyna graduated from Santa Fe High in 1936 and attended the Santa Fe Indian School and Taos Pueblo Day School. He is a lifetime member of the Taos Pueblo Council and has been named a Living Treasure in both Santa Fe and Taos. On Oct. 1, the Heard Museum in Phoenix will present Tony Reyna with the seventh Spirit of Heard Award for his life's work. Each year the American Indian Advisory Committee of the Heard Museum's board of trustees honors an individual who has demonstrated personal excellence either individually or as a community leader. The award ceremony also serves as the start of events for the 2010 Native American Recognition Days, held each year in the Phoenix metropolitan area to celebrate Native life and culture.

"Having Tony Reyna open up this event adds credence to our international celebration," says Wendy Weston, the director of American Indian Relations for the museum.

Reyna appreciates the numerous accolades that he has received in his lifetime, but his family and his connection to the Pueblo is what keeps him going. His daughter Diane is a Peabody Award-winning artist. His son John Anthony is a teacher, and his other daughter, Marie, runs the Children's Art Center at Taos Pueblo. His youngest son, Philip, operates the Tony Reyna Indian Shop. The business is celebrating its 60th year in business and is on the road to Taos Pueblo. Reyna's wife, Annie Cata, of Ohkhay Owingeh ran the family's other store devoted to Native American art for 30 years at the Kachina Lodge in Taos; she died in 1993.

Reyna also has four grandchildren and this month is expecting his first great-grandchild, a boy. "I'm real excited to see my first my great-grandson," he says.

Reyna is the oldest active member of the Taos Pueblo Council. "Jerry Lujan is 98, but he doesn't come to the meetings anymore," Reyna said. Reyna likes to stay busy and is preparing for the Pueblo's San Geronimo feast day on Sept. 30. As he said, "I'm a sunup to sundown type of person."

Ana Pacheco's weekly tribute to our community elders appears every Sunday. She can be reached at 474-2800.