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My Story

Date/Place of Birth:

  • August 21, 1941

  • McMinnville, Oregon

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Residency in Alaska:

  • 1970 - present

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Occupation:

  • Retired Professor

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Family:

  • Wife - Rita

  • Children - Anna, Matthew, Natalie

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Education:

  • Taft High School, Taft, Oregon: 1955 - 1959

  • Linfield College, McMinnville, Oregon - B.A.: 1959 - 1963

  • University of Oregon - M.F.A.: 1963 - 1965

  • University of Oregon - Ph.D.: 1982 - 1984

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Military Service: 3 years service

  • U.S. Army - 1st Lieutenant

  • Army Commendation Medal

  • National Defense Medal

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Alaska State Senate: 2003 – present

  • Chair, Legislative Council: 2015 - present

  • Chair, Advisory Task Force on Higher Education & Career Readiness: 2012 - 2014

  • Chair, 100-Year Celebration of the Alaska Legislature: 2012 - 2014

  • Senate President: 2009-2013

  • Rules Chair: 2008-2009

  • Majority Leader: 2005 – 2007

  • Rules Committee: 2005 – 2013

  • Vice-Chair, Joint Legislative Salmon Industry Task Force: 2003 - 2004

  • Community and Regional Affairs Committee: 2003 - 2004

  • Labor & Commerce Committee: 2003 - 2004

  • Armed Services Joint Committee: 2003 - 2013

  • Legislative Council: 2003 – present

  • Finance Subcommittees: Community & Economic Development (2003 - 2013); Corrections (2003 - 2013); Natural Resources (2003 - 2004)

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Alaska State House of Representatives: 2001 - 2003

  • Co-Chair, Special Committee on Fisheries: 2001 - 2002

  • Health, Education, & Social Services Committee: 2001 - 2002

  • Joint Legislative Salmon Industry Task Force: 2001 - 2002

  • Resources Committee: 2001 - 2002

  • State Affairs Committee: 2001 - 2002

  • Special Committee on Education: 2001 - 2002

  • Finance Subcommittees: Chair, Administration (2003); Chair, Natural Resources (2003); Education & Early Development (2001 - 2002); Fish & Game (2001 - 2002); University of Alaska (2001 - 2002)

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Other Political and Government Positions:

  • Co-Chair, Council on State Governments, International Committee: 2015 - present

  • Member, Council on State Governments, Rules Working Group: 2013 - present

  • National Chair, Council on State Governments: 2013

  • Ex-Officio Member, Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute

  • Mayor, Kodiak Island Borough

  • Mayor, City of Kodiak

  • President, School Board

  • Presiding Officer, Borough Assembly

  • Board of Directors, Alaska Municipal League

  • Alaska Conference of Mayors

  • Vice-President, Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference

  • Chairman, Kodiak Mayor’s Conference

  • Member, Pacific Fisheries Legislative Task Force

  • Ex-Officio Member, Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation: 2002

  • Host Committee, CSG Conference: 2003

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Business and Professional Positions:

  • Professor, University of Alaska: 25 years

  • General Manager, Northern Processors: 5 years

  • Director, Kodiak Oral History Project

  • President, Alaska Historical Society

  • Board of Directors, Alaska Humanities Forum

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Service Organizations and Community Involvement:

  • Rotary International

  • Governor, District 5010

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Special Interests:

  • Alaska, U.S. History

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