From Lineage…
Rich Bison's roots ran deep into American history. His great-grandfather was Chief Spotted Elk — also known as Chief Big Foot — a leader of the Miniconjou band of Lakota Sioux who perished at the Wounded Knee Massacre on December 29, 1890. Chief Spotted Elk was a half-brother of the legendary Sitting Bull, and Crazy Horse was his nephew.
Rich's grandfather, known as "Little Bison," was among the few who survived the massacre as a child. He grew to become a chief in his own right — a leader, entrepreneur, and keeper of Lakota traditions.
Rich carried this heritage with pride his entire life. Among his fellow soldiers in Vietnam and some colleagues at the Burbank Police Derpartment, he was simply known as "Chief" - a nickname that honored a lineage stretching back generations on the American frontier.
The Making of a Man
Rich grew up in Burbank, California — fearless from the start. At age eleven, he and a friend accidentally rode a train 22 miles to Santa Clarita with no way back. At thirteen, he flew alone to Germany to visit his brother in the Army, then bicycled solo across southern Bavaria for weeks. Asked if he was nervous, he replied simply: "What's there to be afraid of?"
Service to Country
In March 1967, Rich volunteered for the United States Army. He served in Vietnam through some of the most intense fighting of the war, including the TET Offensive. For his bravery in combat he earned the Bronze Star and the Army Commendation Medal with valor. When he returned home, disgusted by how Vietnam veterans were treated, Rich threw his medals in the trash — a quiet act of defiance from a man who never sought glory for himself.
To Protect and Serve
Rich served the city of Burbank for twenty-eight years, rising from patrol officer to training officer to detective. He was named Outstanding Cadet at the police academy, served on the motor squad, worked vice-narcotics and homicide, and was the department's top weapons expert and rangemaster. Some of his colleagues simply called him "Chief" — and everyone knew who you meant.
In October 1989, Rich risked his health to save a despondent teenager standing on the wrong side of a bridge overpass railing. He removed his badge and gun, talked to her for forty minutes, and when she let go, caught her by the wrist with what newspapers called "a lucky grab." He suffered broken ribs and a torn rotator cuff. For this act of heroism, Rich was awarded the Burbank Police Star.
"For bravery or heroism above and beyond the normal demands of police service"
The Burbank Police Star — awarded to Richard Bison, December 1989
…To Legacy
Rich and Diana were married for more than fifty-four years — a partnership built on love, resilience, and shared adventure. Together they raised their daughter Heather and were blessed with three grandkids. Rich was a devoted grandfather who loved reading to them, teaching them to fish, and filling their lives with the kind of stories only he could tell.
The Last Chief
The Last Chief
The True Story of a Truly Great Man — From Lineage to Legacy
David Gabriel worked alongside Rich at the Burbank Police Department for twenty-seven years. They started as training officer and rookie — and became lifelong partners and friends. Now Dave tells the complete story of the man he called "Chief."
From the bloodline of Lakota Sioux leaders who shaped American history, through the jungles of Vietnam, to the streets of Burbank and the heart of a family — "The Last Chief" is the story of Rich Bison as only someone who walked beside him for nearly three decades could tell it.
“He was life itself to me and to many others. Or, should I say, he was larger than life.”
— David Gabriel
Read the Book
“The Last Chief” is available as a free PDF download. An EPUB version for Kindle and e‑readers is coming soon.
Best for reading on a computer, tablet, or printing. Looks exactly like the designed book, page by page.
Click to download PDFTips for tablets & phones
- iPad or iPhone: tap the downloaded PDF and choose Open in Books to save it to your Apple Books library, where you can adjust page fit and bookmark your place.
- Android tablet or phone: most devices open PDFs in Google Drive or the Files app by default. For a better reading experience, install a free app like Google Play Books or Adobe Acrobat Reader and open the file from there.
- Computer: any modern web browser (Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox) will open the PDF directly — no extra software needed.
- Printing: the PDF is formatted for letter‑size paper, so it will print cleanly if you’d like a physical copy.
Prefer reading on a Kindle? An EPUB version is coming soon — it’s designed to reflow on e‑readers.
EPUB
EPUB is the standard e‑book format. Text reflows to fit your screen and your chosen font size — ideal for Kindle.
How to get it on your Kindle
- Click Download EPUB above and save the file to your computer (remember where it goes — most likely your Downloads folder).
- In your web browser, go to amazon.com/sendtokindle and sign in with the same Amazon account you use on your Kindle.
-
Drag the downloaded
The-Last-Chief-v1.epubfile onto the page (or click the button to choose the file). - Pick which Kindle device or app to send it to, then click Send.
- Turn on your Kindle and make sure it’s connected to Wi‑Fi. The book should appear in your library in a minute or two under Library → Downloaded.
Trouble sending it? You can also email the EPUB as an
attachment to your personal
@kindle.com address (find yours on Amazon
under
Account → Manage Your Content and Devices →
Preferences → Personal Document Settings).
Stay in Touch
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