Alaska's Governor

Serie A. Why. Thank you. Thank you. Alaska's beauty is trying this. With the state of Alaska today was very different from the territory of just a generation

ago. In the span of one lifetime Alaska has evolved from the Forgotten northern outpost to a full partner in America's affairs. In just over three decades. Created a constitution. Which states struggle three times to the plenty of good. Through it all one man was a central figure pushing for state. Chairing the Constitutional Convention. Serving three terms as governor. He won the truck. The last word because you put their interests above all else. Powering the state. Into the future. You get to thinking back here it doesn't seem like it was that one would go you know from the beginning. William Allen Egan was born October 8th 1914 in the port city of Anchorage. Did not yet exist nor did Seward or Cordova. Well DS was a busy shipping town when the Egan's arrived Well we were we really

ran out in the bush you know and they're here and we came to around here but if you know everything at that time it was at the main gate but didn't hear of the rate of operation which mean it didn't there were and I thought it would wonder were coming out that there were no snow not the worst were not very many people coming in to melt it. She looked like a big cities or you had the impression it was a big city. By the time Bill you can was born the economy of LDS had begun a slow steady decline. Then the Depression hit nationwide. As soon as youngsters were able they worked. Bill Egan's father died when Bill was a youngster and he took jobs as a helper in the Goldfields truck driver fisherman and aviator. He was very strong when he was young. It have to be you know working in the Hard Rock winds around there and helping Bob Reeve push barrels of gasoline around the mud flats and if you really like that either makes or breaks you.

Reeve also taught Egon to fly and he once took Sullivan on a memorable trip back to town from a mining operation in Valdez Bay the runway was a soft sandy beach and even had trouble getting the plane up to take off speed. As they taxied Egan asked Sullivan to hold on to a fire extinguisher which was loose in the cockpit. That worried George even more. Just as I saw the view of this scene and in the world for fools or pridefully over the lottery why it that scientists believe that it didn't so I was like this right over the water and of course I wasn't paying much attention to him I was trying to hold that thing so the rules didn't go down in the water. And finally then little by little I got inch by inch up and. And I was probably sweating blue blazes. But and once I got up to 50 hundred feet then I had it under control and and I said Joyce that was really a tough one we almost didn't make it yet. And there was a thing that's holding that fire extinguisher and I'd slip you know how upset he was and he was sort of a daredevil around you know with cars and that sort of thing around town and they were thought of

not. Having been to afraid of flying. Well I pulled up about fifteen hundred feet I'm going back to how there's no reason to doubt these. So I when I got up about fifteen hundred feet I was really happy other than my get we just about everything and and I was singing to him I pulled up and we just really cost the best spring you know. All my dad was it took that kind of stimulus he raised me in my philosophy built up that I was running late and I mean there's no question about it I'm sure he really he really meant it. Really good. He wrote to his brother. I took the road to where the old anger was he opened the door he got out he didn't say we left and I he didn't show up and he was going to go back with me about 7:30 in the morning I was out there he didn't even show up and I couldn't see anything. Egon took a steady job with the road commission but his true love was politics by age 27 he was serving in the Territorial Legislature and as a freshman

representative. He and John McCormick of Juneau introduced the first statehood referendum bill. As I think back to that to day in 1941 when I had the honor of introducing the first Alaska statehood referendum bail in the Alaska territorial legislature. I can't help but remember. How lonesome it was to be a statehood advocate at that time. The bill never made it through the territorial Senate. You can try to get in one thousand forty three. And again the bill was defeated over the next decade Alaskans began traveling to Washington D.C. with increasing frequency help the efforts of the territory's delegate to Congress. And soon impatient with action on the federal level Alaskans decided to hold a convention on the university campus in Fairbanks to draft a constitution. You can hitchhike the very banks in a pickup truck driving the day before the 55 delegates convened.

I never intended to become a delegate and went back to Vail leads to my business and I honestly felt then that that that I was out of. And if you have politics and work at my business it been been going alright but I've been away from it too much. And then people from here and elsewhere have bugged me so to speak about filing for well as the diverse group of delegates had trouble selecting a president and a reluctant Bill Egan was voted in on the third ballot. The bill probably was God's natural man for the president constitutional convention. Thank you good design a man to bring the diversified elements in all the antis with the pros the old with the young. The Arctic with the south central southeastern and Bill Cross those. And those barriers very easily just 75 days later a constitution was hammered out one many call the finest in the nation. But

it wasn't easy. Egan realized despite the cold of the Fairbanks winter tempers were flaring in the old University of Alaska Jim. Wright was perfect. I'd like to hope that history the public has. Ever cheated in an acrimonious debate raged over the drafting revision of a Declaration of Rights Article can interrupted the proceedings shortly before midnight that day. OK I would like to announce that the temperature is now about 40 below and if the delegates have their cars out there they probably should start in an order that they will start. There's been a sudden drop in that have occurred. Outside. When the delegates return to the convention came back to order tempers have cooled. And in the end delegates had a document they could sign and present to the voters for approval. They decided to honor their leader. As a token of appreciation. We had. A portrait of

beleaguered. Painted. By it visiting portrait artist from outside. And it was presented to him in a ceremony. At the tail end of the convention. With the testimonials so they to him. I and. The air. Will be good no doubt. After you know so he had maintained this he would never take all the way through. It was a marvelous chair but whenever there was pressure he was able to use it whenever anyone needed help he was able to provide assistance. I mean all the way through it kept discomposure regardless of what the pressures of a crisis might be and believe it just broke out. DELEGATE. Delegates to. Get us. Really started as somebody said it's like VOIP through a war together. In one thousand fifty six voters in the Territory were asked to approve a different style of

lobbying for statehood. They would elect three people called two of them senators the other representative and send them to Washington D.C. just as Tennessee had done in its fight for state bill Egan and Ernest greening were elected senators Relf Rivers representative. And they left Alaska for Washington in three identical cars painted white with the Alaska flag on the door of the church. And it took lobbying convincing and cajoling until May 1958 when the House of Representatives approved statehood. One month later June 30th 1958 the Senate approved. And with the official proclamation signed by President Eisenhower on January 3rd 1959. The dream was realized. I was in the press gallery when the Senate voted. And when it was announced. I can't talk about. I was just going to say it.

I've never been able to talk about Alaskans went to the polls to choose their first state governor and Democrat billion defeated Republican John but rich you are you know I ran against Bill for governor for 1958. And I. Got suddenly. Trouble is what I have always said. I've never enjoyed losing to anybody just watching what I did losing to Bill. But on the day Egan was supposed to take office he became desperately ill. On the day January 3rd the day that that we did become the forty night state and the president issued a proclamation. I was forced to go to the hospital that that at least that afternoon in there was between being in Juneau and then later in Seattle for three more surgeries. It was a difficult time for for you waiting to get it.

Oh you're a real fine job when Egon was back at his desk the pile of work seemed insurmountable but just suddenly there was no longer a territory he had to you know form an attorney general's office a cabinet of state police. All these things had to be done then. Ferry systems should just was a tremendous show. He drove himself hard and expected every other state employee an appointee to work just as hard. Bill Ray was appointed to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board that first term. I was on the board for oh a month or more I guess and. So we were doing too much and so I want to see the governor Governor Reagan at that time and I said Governor you know what we suppose doing as look a boy that he's going to kind of I don't know what to do what I want you want to do is so I can't I'm glad you asked I have a project for you and I said what's that and he said Well I'm much of a banker to shut down to be joint and I say say why do that.

So he said and I said well what if what would you like for me to do for an encore. He says go to Fairbanks and do the same. I don't know they have quite a criminal element at that time and you know within the they were in the industry liquor industry but they were simply because they were running these kind of joints and then there robbing people beating them up and things like that. So I proceed to go up there and that's why we did this we shut down the beach right in addition to the various bureaucracies the state legislature was formed. One of the new lawmakers that first session was a big game guide from neck neck the transition of course from territorial status to statehood involved the establishment of the entire state government. So it was a monumental task and one which I certainly believe going to dressed very admirably in commendably And I think he had more help than subsequent governors had because we all went down there more

idealistic and motivated I think than which is natural new state and reflection was an incredible task and one which in retrospect it seems like you rather an amazing accomplishment and I think believed and certainly should have a great deal of credit for having led that particular session of legislature in that particular phase of state government during those first years of statehood budgets were very low and I was in the last year trying legislature we have a budget of 18 million dollars a year I think. That 18 minute we spend that much on the bridge today. I have created a stable government. He. Built it. I could squeeze every penny I would have to create a state out of whole cloth as if setting up government wasn't enough of a task. The Good Friday earthquake on March 27 1964 with the whole state to a test. Even his home town of values was virtually

wiped out. Anchorage the state's largest city was in shambles and everything everyone who worked for a scene on the brink of destruction. That green if that out 75 out out it I'm a good hard look and what is awfully dark and our lot. Governor and some of the key legislators went back to the worst in D.C.. With. Our congressional people but also met with many other congressional people for bracing for made. Sure the engineers are given full go ahead to get things going because you know water lines are broken sword lines are broken roads rhetorical art and everything had to be done this summer. You know I had to be done

that summer they had to have the water flowing by fall otherwise come freeze up there'd be people in a lot of troubles around there so they did an outstanding job. The good governor course let it all slowly the state rebuild itself especially at Kodiak woodier Seward valleys in Anchorage. And as normalcy returned the pressure increased on Governor Egan to select more state land from the 103 million acres do us from the federal government. But Egan wanted to make sure he chose that land carefully seeing what has happened. He may have gone about it a little a little differently a little faster. But we did select They had the slaves along the North Slope and various other lands that had become a lucrative and productive stages down in the Kenai. By 1966 Egan's hold on the governor's office began to slip as Walter Hinkle challenge him for the state's top job.

I said when we started we was going to run. We're going to get them out right. My whole emphasis was what could we do economically. What how can we put this together and in essence we picked up on just a lot of the programs that had been started to land withdraw and put obey the basically done under Governor Reagan. But the making it happen is right where I was coming from. The election was extremely close. In fact they even thought they had won when they turned in on election night. And the 1966 election neither returned to the Saudis on Election Day. And because my office had a ship to shore proper radio my home and office became the headquarters for the evening tabulation of the election results. Many people were there each having brought bottles and even catered for champagne and by and by midnight it appeared that Bill had won the contest and I bet that while they heckled that many many cases of

champagne were opening. And I could be in the morning. All in good spirits and went off to bed don't need it we're staying with my wife and I and when we awoke the next morning the news commentator with announcing that lolly Piccolo had beaten up you know and the last precinct knocked and I had it won the gubernatorial race still gonna come out right. I'm sure glad we drank all that champagne what everyone was in a good mood. Bill Egan's good humor and graciousness shone through again during the transition period. While the Hagel recalls he had this official car the governor and normally a state trooper drives it you know beleaguered and I sit in the front seat with him he drive and we're talking going down down he's driving the car and he told me a little funny story he said you know it was a lake and he said this thing has air conditioning and people I said why would you have a conditioning in Alaska. I said Do you ever drive a Hanes high when the dust This keeps the dust out. So they argue about of tell me what are you

going to get the dust out. Give your bad more important things to talk about after. January 1968. Ten billion barrels of oil are discovered on Alaska's North Slope. The destiny of the state again radically altered. President Richard Nixon asked Governor Haeckel to be his secretary of the interior. And Billy again in 1970 defeated acting governor Keith Miller to win back the governor's chair. And I will literally discharge my duties as governor of Alaska as governor of Alaska to the best of my ability to the best of my ability. Stuart help me God. So help me God. Gotcha questions Governor. I. Even moved immediately to begin work on his most pressing priorities. First we must achieve with the understanding and help of Congress a just settlement of the native land

claim. At the time that Egan became and entered his third term. In 1970. The state and the federal government and the native groups are essentially at impasse. The state was not a significant player in the. Negotiations over taking place in Washington as a matter of fact the state had assumed a posture of opposing a number of the principal elements. And when Egan became governor that all changed with a strong state effort to get the issue resolved the impasse was broken and the federal government settled with Alaska's natives. Egan turned his energies to building the Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline. In 1973 I spent weeks in the as governor in Washington going up and down the halls on you'll remember and there Jackson had it fail that soon settle that. See if we go to the courts and let the court decide whether the line should go on that 4000 miles to Chicago or

down through to the Alaska clear with the intense lobbying paid off. And in 1974 work finally started on the Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline. Slowly the mood of the state began changing and by the fall election that year a new figure emerged to lead Alaska. Hard work hasn't made a Hammond a millionaire his lifetime of service to Alaska and its people has paid off in the way he's running for governor this year not to make a name for himself and not to advance any interests other than those of his Alaska neighbors. Jay Hammond defeated Bill even in the 174 election by a scant two hundred eighty seven votes. Even while out of elective office believing never stop dreaming about what could be an Alaska. BIG DREAM. Such as a new pipeline for North Slope natural gas. He turned many of his dreams into reality because almost everyone who met or worked with believin liked him. And respected him.

And his love for this country. On May 6th 1984 10 years after leaving public office. Million died of cancer. Three days later. Over 2000 Alaskans from all walks of life attended a memorial service held in the new William Egan convention center. Many share their favorite believin stories. My. Young children really loved him he always took the time you know to. Stop even to the system a second almost it seemed like. I that time we had five little ones. And they were just a year apart. One time there were there were five under five you know and. In it it took a while to be nice to each one of them will find a way to let each one of them know that he had settled on. He was very good with children. I think he was on a first name basis with more native people than almost anybody there in the state because as you know he had a great remembers of names and he could remember everybody he knew

Charlie and Ruby and little bill and Shirley and how were they you know and probably had seen the people for five years. He sincerely cared and he went out of his way to see people if he was traveling up the highway just uprightly every road house visit with the people that he knew for the last ten years he worked for our. Various trusts for the last collateral. Trust and he could Minister these plans and he wanted the participants to get everything they had every possible penny they had coming to him. But on the other hand not a penny more tax of retirees was drawn he'd always add little separate notes and there in his. Own little comment to him about enjoying their retirement. Golda Meir. And it was right thoughtful in that way. In valdés before he went to Juneau Every Christmas he used to dress up in a Santa Claus suit and take presents around all the kids in the neighborhood. And

surprisingly enough after became governor he did the same thing. He asked himself up in Santa Claus suit. He went around incognito do a lot of the state office buildings as many as he could. He went up and down the main streets of Juneau with presents for the youngsters and greetings for the state people. For many years a lot of them didn't know he would visit coffee shops around the state. They have I mean Barry used to come into the Travelodge coffee shop all the time in the while he was governor and after he was not governor and visit with the waitresses when he lived in Juneau he would go downtown and mill around Evie know if you got to work in the office late probably check on the ferry system make sure the ship came in on time and watch them tied up probably make make sure that if they had they had done it right. Bill is a. Hard worker and as I said earlier interested in the state to the extent

that you know us every mattered except his family. I recall when Labor put on a weekend for governor party here at the carpenter's hall we had about four or five hundred people waiting for him. I went to the airport to pick him up brought him here got out of the car here and I went in. Bill said it all seemed a little while and he drifted downtown with 400 staunch Democrats in here waiting for Billy Graham. And when I came in and told him Bill went downtown everyone accepted that I was Bill he had to go down and see his people. He went over to talk to the people came back a half an hour later everybody totally accepted it. This was Bill again he loved the people. Well I remember him as a great statesman a real champion and a fighter for Alaska. I don't think that there was ever a time that he wasn't prepared for decisions that had to be made. He did his homework

and he wasn't afraid to stand up to the oil companies are it to anybody else who might be trying to pull off fast on the state. I don't mean that the oil companies were but I mean anyone who had dealings with the state Governor Reagan was always there fighting for what was right. No one worked harder than Bill Egan I mean no one word harder and love the state more. I used to just enjoy hearing him say the word Alaska. Because you could just sense the pride that he had in being in Alaska when he said the word. He was what most Alaskans considered to be the current assessed quintessential image of our state. He was unassuming he was also quiet but he would but he but he embodied great strength not physical strength but strength of character. And as time goes on or he's going to look better. Right now he looks awfully good. It is going to look better.

I spend an hour with them the day before I went to see the president the pope and I was in the bedroom and we were talking Knievel was in and out and we reminisced an old times in fact when the stories of told the past was a airplane ride he took me on one day and scared the daylights out of me and I told him that day in the bedroom I said you just get well and get out of this bed now fly with you not over completely. He that. Is below you going past is upon. These flowers days planted in the hearts of people throughout the state will spring out. Do not stand at my grave and weep. I am not there. I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripe and green I am the gentle autumn's rain.

When you awaken in the mornings Hush I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled light I am the soft stars that shine at night you know stand at my grave and cry. I am not there. I did not.