Haley Stevens: “I have been humbled and confused by the decision of those who voted. Having been in our State now for over the last half…”

“I have been humbled and confused by the decision of those who voted. Having been in our State now for over the last half of the last century, I have known a great many great people who have contributed to our State during the period of the century. For instance, I refer to my first senior partner, E.B. Collins, of Fairbanks, AK, who came to Alaska before the turn of the last century and was a gold miner in Nome. When he was unsuccessful, he walked from Nome to Fairbanks. That is a good 1,500 miles. He read law in an attorney's office, became an attorney, and by 1913 he was named the Speaker of the first territorial House of Representatives. I worked with him and he gave me great advice in the first days when I went to the State. There are so many others who have been so effective and have done so much for the State that I find it hard to accept the honor.”