Bobby Cleveland was just a lad when he decided what he wanted to do with his life, and he is living that life now. His dream was to have a family, to be in sales and to have his own business, a family business.

"I am doing exactly what I knew I wanted to do when I was a sixth-grader," he says. Add to that Republican party political activist, including being a delegate to the Republican National Convention this week, and one of the party's seven state electors.

At the Cleveland Company's Norman headquarters, he is in the sales and marketing of sporting goods and Christian materials, working side by side with Barbara, his wife of 40 years. The company's goods are sold around the world, including at Wal-Mart and Mardel stores.

"We are the largest manufacturer of Bible covers in the world," he says of the business which takes him to the Orient several times a year. He is also on the road regularly, calling on clients and participating in trade shows while Barbara keeps the office running.

"She is the backbone of the business." She handles the money, he says, jokingly adding: "I am good at selling, and she is good at spending." It is a formula that has worked for 40 years, he says.

While his business is well established in Norman, Cleveland's name is more often recognized for his stand on community events. One issue was the annual Christmas parade in Norman, and his vocal opposition after an attempt was made to change it to the "Holiday Parade." He runs his own blog, thatsjustbob.blogspot.com.

"I am not afraid to take a challenge, to fight for what I believe in," he says, and his phone often rings with someone requesting him to carry a torch for one issue or another. He doesn't take the challenge unless he investigates and finds it a matter he, too, is concerned about. He is not willing to be a "front man" for other people's issues.

As a voting delegate to the Republican National Convention in St. Paul this week, he is serving on the Credentials Committee which certifies the delegates. A Democrat for much of his adult life, he changed to the Republican party after his sons, Rod and Ron, became politically aware and began to point out things that made him think through his party affiliation.

"Usually, it is the father who leads the son. In this case, it was the sons who led the father." There are three issues that define Cleveland's political beliefs, issues that are reflected in the Republican party platform. They are his belief in the right to bear arms, his opposition to abortion and his opposition to same-sex marriages.

"This is my first national convention, and I don't know just what to expect," Cleveland said early last week. He expected lots of speeches building excitement for the race to come. He has the distinction of being the only Native American delegate to the convention, something pointed out to him when he was contacted for an interview by the Native American magazine.

In November, he is expecting Sen. John McCain to carry the state, and Cleveland is looking forward to being one of the seven Republican electors, the state's representatives to the Electoral College. With a Republican win in their pocket, "we will go to the Capitol and certify the election and send the papers on," casting Oklahoma's seven Electoral College presidential votes.

Proud of his Choctaw heritage, Cleveland calls himself an Indian, eschewing the term "Native American." While fairer in complexion than his parents or siblings, he remembers his brother being called "chief" and his mother once referred to as "squaw," a term which she didn't take to favorably, and handled the situation with force, he recalls. "Changing it to American Indian didn't change anything," he says.

Cleveland remembers stories of his ancestors being forcibly marched from their homes in Mississippi to Oklahoma, and a grandmother who knew only a few English words. He lives by his mother's admonition to be proud to be a Choctaw. Cleveland's family still holds the 160-acre allotment his great-grandfather received in Bryan County, one of the few allotments that remain with the original family, Cleveland has been told.

His activities in local Republican politics consist mainly of helping candidates, he says, which most often means helping them raise money.

"I bet I have raised $100,000 for candidates in the last few years," he says, mostly by introducing the candidate to key people who are able to give money and by hosting fundraising events.

But there is more to Cleveland than successful businessman and political activist. He plays racquetball with a few "die-hard Democrat" friends and also finds time for golf. He and Barbara are regular in attendance at their church. He is on the Slaughterville town council. Cleveland is also a husband, and father and grandfather to eight and they all enjoy weekends at the lake. When asked how he would like to be remembered, he said it would be as a man who wasn't afraid to fight for what he thought was right. But after time for thought, something deeper, something more important to him, emerged: his relationship with his grandchildren. "I want to be remembered by my grandchildren as a fun guy to be with."

Know an interesting neighbor? Call us at 366-3530 and share their story with us.