A small private funeral service will be held Wednesday (8/3) at Port Alsworth for former Alaska Governor Jay Hammond, who died in his sleep Tuesday at his home at Lake Clark. He was 83.
Governor Frank Murkowski has ordered the state and U.S. flags lowered to half-staff in honor of Hammond. Murkowski says a public memorial will be held later.
Jay Hammond came to Alaska in 1946 as a pilot. He earned a degree in biology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. In the 1950s, he homesteaded near Lake Clark in Southwest Alaska, where he became active in local government. In the 1960s, he served in the State Legislature, then won the governor’s office in 1974 by 221 votes over Bill Egan.
Rosemarie Alexander and Matt Miller compiled this recollection of the Bush Rat Governor.
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