Amador County – Amador County philanthropist and pioneering tribal leader, Margaret L. (Hughes) Dalton passed away Sunday night, leaving a world-class legacy to her family, tribe and community. Dalton, 68, was Chairwoman for 30 years of the Jackson Rancheria Band of Miwuk Indians. She spearheaded the formalization of its government, and was elected and served as its first and only chair, starting in 1979. Her legacy includes giving millions of dollars back to the community, after fulfilling a dream she and her late husband, Earl Dalton Senior, both held of making the tribe self-sufficient. Earl predeceased Margaret in 1980, a year after Margaret formalized the tribal government, to strengthen its stance among state and federal regulations. She built self-sufficiency in the tribe through the Jackson Bingo Hall, founded in 1991, which became the Jackson Rancheria Casino, Hotel & Conference Center. The Jackson Rancheria is Amador County’s largest employer, with as many as 2,000 people in its endeavors. Margaret Dalton and the Rancheria built a 2-mile road, Dalton Way, dedicated in October 2006. Under Margaret Dalton’s leadership, the Jackson Rancheria has given voluntary semi-annual payments of nearly $1 Million Dollars to the county, Sutter Creek and Jackson, through the Amador County Local Indian Gaming Benefit Committee. Dalton, a 53-year resident of Amador, since marrying Earl Senior in 1956, has sponsored numerous causes in the county. The Rancheria was the main sponsor of the California High School Challenge of Champions Rodeo and an Amador County Fair staple. It also has a health and dental complex, and built the Pine Acres apartments on Sutter Hill for its employees. The Amador County Chamber of Commerce named its “Margaret Dalton Humanitarian Award” after her, Chamber Director Jacqui Lucido said, “because (Margaret Dalton) typifies the type of person we want to honor, an unsung hero who works unselfishly for others.” A local business owner said Margaret Dalton had “always been very supportive of the county,” a generosity she “passed on to her sons,” Earl Junior, Dennis, Robert and Adam. Margaret Dalton’s support included charities, protecting the environment, and direct grants, with an emphasis on local community groups, schools, organizations, and projects that benefit children and seniors. Margaret Dalton’s endeavors included the Jackson Rancheria Youth Fund, annual employee/vendor golf tournaments for charity, and donations to charities based on amount of play by casino guests. The Rancheria’s businesses built by Margaret Dalton annually pay more than $50 million dollars in employment-related taxes and annually purchase more than $50 million dollars worth of goods and services. Story by Jim Reece