Creating Alaska

Walter J. Hickel

Republican National Committeeman (1954-64)

Governor, State of Alaska (1966-69, 1990-94)

US Secretary of the Interior (1969-70)

Role in Statehood Struggle
  • Travelled to Washington D.C. on "Statehood Flight" to advocate for statehood.
  • Met with President Eisenhower and Speaker Sam Rayburn
  • Responsible for gaining national Republican support for Alaska Statehood
  • Strong advocate for increasing the size of Alaska's statehood land grant
Personal Information

Name Walter Joseph Hickel
City
Anchorage
Occupation Businessman and Hotel Owner
Born
August 18, 1919 - Ellinwood, Kansas
Alaska Resident
1940-Present

Honors

  • "Alaskan of the Year" - 1969
  • "Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure" from His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of Japan (1988)
  • Secretary General, Northern Forum
Further Information

Selected Newspaper Articles  

For more newspaper articles, visit the Statehood Newspaper Archive