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Sen. Murkowski [R-AK]: Mr. President, I wish to remember one of the great public officials in the history of the State of Alaska, the former mayor of Anchorage, George M. Sullivan, who died...

Record Text

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS -- (Senate - November 02, 2009)<p><center><pre>[Page: S. 10987]

Sen. Lisa Murkowski [R-AK]: Mr. President, I wish to remember one of the great public officials in the history of the State of Alaska, the former mayor of Anchorage, George M. Sullivan, who died peacefully in his sleep last month at age 87. George served Alaska during a time of transition in our State's history.

A lifelong Alaskan who was born and raised in Valdez, George worked for the U.S. Army's transportation corps during World War II in the Aleutians. He later won a seat in the Alaska House of Representatives in 1964 and 1965, being an excellent representative for Anchorage to represent the city's vast economic needs in the State legislature. He was a convincing spokesman for Anchorage in securing the aid that the city so desperately needed to rebuild.

George became the mayor of the city of Anchorage in 1967, just 8 years after statehood, but more importantly just 3 years after the Good Friday earthquake of 1964 that destroyed most of downtown Anchorage. The city was still in the early phases of rebuilding when George became the leader of city government. He guided the city through crafting new building and zoning codes as well as implementing land use planning to prevent further earthquake damage from occurring in the future.

Meanwhile, an economic earthquake struck Alaska--the discovery of oil on Alaska's North Slope in December 1968. That discovery did more than any other event, even the earthquake, to turn Anchorage from a small port city to Alaska's largest city and the center of business, commerce, and supply in the State.

In preparation for the construction of the Trans-Alaska pipeline and the subsequent economic boom, Sullivan had the vision to see that municipal government needed to have greater authority to regulate and supervise growth. He led the effort to bring about the merger of the city of Anchorage with the surrounding borough to build a unified government, helping to write the city-borough's first charter in 1975. He then stayed on to guide the young unified city-borough government, serving as mayor for 14 years, longer than any other person before or since.

While guiding Anchorage to become the State's largest city, he also found time to represent Alaska as the State's first member of the executive board of the National League of Cities in 1972. He also served as the president of the Alaska Municipal League.

George also worked tirelessly to represent Alaska's needs during congressional consideration of the Alaska lands act that eventually passed in 1980. It was then that I first met him since I was working as an aide for the Alaska Legislature. George truly was an inspiration. He could light up a room in Juneau just by entering it and could influence legislation simply with a few words of wisdom.

George did not speak to hear himself talk, but everyone listened when he did talk. That was because everyone who knew George knew he was a straight shooter, a totally honest, fair, dedicated and hard-working man of outstanding judgment. He was a gentleman in every sense of the word.

He worked tirelessly to develop a complete city, one with services for the young which is why the town's sports center the the Sullivan Arena--is named after him. He also worked to build facilities for senior citizens and low-income individuals and he worked to build the infrastructure necessary for a modern city in a cold climate.

While we had known of his ill health and his battle with cancer for some time, there is still a great emptiness at his passing. While his wife Margaret passed away 2 years ago, George is survived by nine children, one of which, Dan, is Anchorage's current mayor.

As much as George was known for his leadership in the community and State, he was also known to be a family man. He and his wife Margaret were married for 59 years and raised nine children. I offer my deepest condolences to all of his children and grandchildren.

George was truly one of Alaska's original pioneers, a giant who will be sorely missed. His many accomplishments will live on in Alaska's history. Many Alaskans, including myself, will continue to remember the good humor, wisdom, and selflessness of the man who will always be called Mr. Mayor.