Alaskan of the Year awards are an Alaska tradition dating from 1967.
Alaskan of the Year, Inc., arose out of a 60th birthday party that year, to honor Robert Atwood, publisher of the Anchorage Times. Initially its only award was "Alaskan of the Year", but the "Governor's Award", the "Denali Award", and the "With Great Respect Award" were in turn added to its repertoire. The corporation gave awards until 2002, when decreased membership made continuation impracticable.Guide to the Alaskan of the Year, Inc. records, 1979-2003, UAA/APU Consortium Library
Alaskan of the Year awards have since become projects of the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce and of the Governor's Committee on Employment and Rehabilitation for People with Disabilities.Author Biography, Eastern Shores Library System
Award winners Alaskan of the Year, Inc. awards 1967 – Robert Bruce Atwood 1969 – Walter Hickel 1971 – William A. Egan 1972 – Robert Campbell Reeve 1974 – Ted Stevens 1977 – Fred Machetanz 1978 – John Thomas Kelsey 1981 – Evangeline Atwood 1987 – Rick Mystrom (Denali Award) 1988 – William J. Tobin 1991 – Lew Williams, Jr. 1994 – Jay S. Hammond 1995 – Joe Redington 1997 – Archbishop Francis Hurley 1998 – Al Swalling 1999 – Edward B. Rasmuson 1999 – Syun-Ichi Akasofu (Denali Award) 2000 – Ted Stevens (awarded Alaskan of the Century for the occasion) 2001 – Augie Hiebert 2001 – Michael Oleksa (Denali Award) – Mahala Ashley Dickerson
Alaska State Chamber of Commerce awards This event was eventually named the William A. Egan Alaskan of the Year Award. 2008 – Marc Langland 2009 – John Shively 2010 – Helvi Sandvik 2012 – Joseph E. Usibelli Jr. 2013 – Nominees: Jim Doyle, Steve Borell, Margy Johnson
Governor's Committee on Employment awards 2008 – Dan Bigley
References http://www.adn.com/2013/08/23/3039695/alaska-chamber-announces-top-business.html#storylink=cpy