Haley Stevens: “I rise today to pay tribute, on his 80th birthday, to a great American and a great Alaskan, Governor Bill Sheffield. My…”

“I rise today to pay tribute, on his 80th birthday, to a great American and a great Alaskan, Governor Bill Sheffield. My friend Bill Sheffield was the Democratic Governor of Alaska from 1982-86, which was just a short episode in a lifetime of service to Alaska both in government and in the private sector. Governor Sheffield came to Alaska in 1953, the same year I moved to our great State, to handle television sales for Sears and Roebuck. His exceptional intellect and work ethic were easily recognized. Quickly, he took leadership positions in the Chamber of Commerce and other business groups in Alaska, eventually becoming president of the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce and, in 2006, being awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in Business by the Alaska Business Monthly. By 1960, he had entered the hotel industry by purchasing his first hotel in Anchorage. The day before the Good Friday Earthquake in 1964, Bill Sheffield had just opened a new hotel, but it would take more than that earthquake to stop Bill. His hotel business continued to grow until he owned 16 hotels throughout Alaska and the Yukon Territory. As Governor, Bill Sheffield was focused on 'Bringing the State Together,' the theme of his campaign. His reputation as a problem-solver and his pledge to unite Alaskans resulted in a landslide victory.”