Hildebrand graduated from Miami High School in 1969, went to NEO A&M College and graduated from there in 1973 with an Associate of Arts degree in business.

Hildebrand married in 1975 to Kathy (Lewis) Hildebrand and they have two children, daughter Randee and son, Ryan, and five grandchildren.

In 1977, Hildebrand went to work for Eagle-Picher Industries at the new Boron Plant they built outside of Quapaw, Okla. He was there for about seven years before being laid off for two years, then went back to Eagle-Picher at their Quapaw Germanium Plant where he worked in the Laser and Infrared part of the plant for 28 years.

In 1983 Hildebrand was at the meeting when Leaford Bearskin was elected Chief.

“Little did I know that election would eventually be a defining moment not only in my life, but the lives of all citizens of the Wyandotte Nation, and to this day I am very proud to have participated in the election that would influence so many lives,” Hildebrand said.

“I think it was 1992 at an Annual Meeting that Chief Bearskin called for a volunteer to be on the Grievance Committee… I saw no one was stepping forward so I raised my hand and volunteered and that was when I first got involved with the Tribe.”

Hildebrand spent the next 12 years on the Grievance Committee, then in 2004, a position on the Board of Directors became vacant.

“Chief Bearskin asked me if I would be interested in a seat on the Board, so I said yes (it was hard to say no to Chief Bearskin),” Hildebrand said. “Then in 2010 Chief called me into his office and told me he was wanting to retire and asked if I would be interested in becoming the next Second Chief. I gave it some thought and said yes. In 2011 Chief Bearskin announced his retirement plans and on June 1, 2011, I became Second Chief.”

Since becoming Second Chief, Hildebrand attended many conferences and meetings of many Native American organizations. One organization, the National Congress of American Indians, he has represented the Tribe as the Alternate Delegate for the past 10 years. He served as the Alternate Vice President for the Eastern Oklahoma Area for four years, then in 2019, was elected Area Vice President for Eastern Oklahoma and re-elected for another final two-year term in October 2021. He is also the delegate for the United Indian Nations of Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas, and in September 2021, he was elected Vice Chairman of this organization.

In 2019, Hildebrand was voted, ‘Tribal Leader of the Year’ by the United Indian Nations of Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas, and had the honor of being one of the AARP Indian Elder Honorees.

“Being on these various Committees and Boards has given me the opportunity to represent the Wyandotte Nation all over this country and give us a strong presence in Indian Country,” he said.