MINNEAPOLIS - Stanley Crooks, the chairman of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community for the last two decades, has died. He was 70.

According to a statement from the tribe, he died Saturday morning from natural causes.

Crooks helped grow the community's gaming operations, including Mystic Lake Casino in Prior Lake, and he had served as chairman of the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association for many years. He had been re-elected for a new four-year term in January.

In a statement, Charlie Vig, vice chairman of the Sioux Community, said Crooks "was a leader in every sense of the word."

Funeral services are pending.

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