1st Alaska State Legislature

Term of state legislature in Alaska, US February 2025 January 2025 committee assignments and legislative accomplishments March 2022 The 1st Alaska State Legislature served during 1959 and 1960. All of its members were elected on November 26, 1958, when Alaska was in its last days as a territory. Terms The Alaska Constitution established that legislative terms begin on the fourth Monday in January following an election year, and that the date may be changed by statute. This legislature passed Senate Bill 70 in the first session, which placed the date into statute but did not actually change it. All terms began on January 26, 1959 All terms of representatives, and of those senators serving short terms, expired on January 22, 1961 All terms of senators serving long terms expired on January 27, 1963 Sessions 1st session: January 26, 1959 – April 16, 1959 2nd session: January 25, 1960 – March 29, 1960 Alaska Senate Make-up Affiliation Members Democratic Party 18 Republican Party 2  Total 20  Government Majority 16 Members District Name Life Party Location A James Nolan 1901–1991 Dem Wrangell Frank Peratrovich 1895–1984 Dem Klawock B Walter O. "Bo" Smith 1907–1987 Dem Ketchikan C Howard C. Bradshaw 1908–1994 Dem Sitka D Thomas B. Stewart 1919–2007 Dem Juneau E Ralph E. MoodyResigned in 1960, following the end of sessions, to accept appointment as attorney general 1915–1997 Dem Anchorage Irene E. Ryan 1909–1997 Dem Anchorage F Balfour J. "Bob" Logan 1906–1974 Dem Cordova G Joseph Earl CooperAppointed to the Alaska Superior Court between sessions. Seaborn J. Buckalew, Jr. (D) was appointed to his seat for the second session. 1907–1964 Dem Anchorage H Irwin L. Metcalf 1908–1973 Dem Seward I Alfred A. Owen 1910–1985 Dem Uganik Bay J George B. McNabb, Jr. 1919–1992 Dem Fairbanks Robert J. McNealy 1907–1978 Dem Fairbanks K Jack E. Weise 1915–2000 Rep Bethel L John B. Coghill 1925–2019 Rep Nenana M Hubert A. GilbertAppointed to the Alaska Superior Court between sessions. Rep. Bob Giersdorf (D) was appointed to his seat January 29, 1960. Giersdorf, who was born on February 24, 1935, was short of the constitutionally-established minimum age, and resigned the seat. Edmund N. Orbeck (D), who was appointed to Giersdorf's House seat, replaced him. 1914–1984 Dem Fairbanks N William E. Beltz 1912–1960 Dem UnalakleetDied on November 21, 1960, after the end of sessions but before the expiration of his term. Lester Bronson 1905–1972 Dem Nome O Eben Hopson 1922–1980 Dem Barrow P John A. McNees 1917–1995 Dem Nome Leadership Senate President: William E. Beltz (D-Unalakleet) Alaska House of Representatives Make-up Affiliation Members Democratic Party 34 Republican Party 5 Independent 1  Total 40  Government Majority 28 Members District Name Life Party Location 1 Charles M. Jones 1921–2002 Dem Craig 2 Oral E. Freeman 1915–2001 Dem Ketchikan James R. "J. Ray" Roady 1907–1997 Dem Ketchikan 3 John E. Longworth 1910–1985 Rep Petersburg 4 Frank E. Cashel 1918–1991 Dem Sitka Andrew Hope 1896–1968 Dem Sitka 5 Douglas Gray 1908–1980 Dem Douglas Dora M. Sweeney 1907–2001 Dem Juneau 6 Morgan W. Reed 1904–? November 2024 Dem Skagway 7 Harold Z. Hansen 1910–1993 Ind-D Cordova 8 Bruce Kendall 1919–2012 Rep Valdez 9 James J. Hurley 1915–2002 Dem Palmer 10 Helen M. Fischer 1912–1986 Dem Anchorage James E. Fisher 1927–2020 Dem Anchorage John S. Hellenthal 1915–1989 Dem Anchorage Earl D. Hillstrand 1913–1974 Dem Anchorage Peter J. Kalamarides 1916–1979 Dem Anchorage Edward R. "Russ" Meekins 1915–1995 Dem Anchorage James E. Norene 1905–1996 Dem Anchorage John L. RaderAppointed state attorney general between sessions. Blanche L. McSmith (D) was appointed to his seat for the second session. 1927– Dem Anchorage 11 William M. Erwin 1933–2022 Dem Seward 12 Allan L. Petersen 1890–1969 Dem KenaiPetersen, Jettie. Once Upon The Kenai, page 269-70 Kenai Historical Society, Alaska, 1984 13 Peter M. Deveau 1917–2002 Dem Kodiak Henry L. Haag 1895–1969 Dem Kodiak 14 Charles J. Franz 1910–1996 Dem Port Moller 15 Jay S. Hammond 1922–2005 Ind Naknek 16 James Hoffman 1925–1982 Rep Bethel 17 Donald Harris 1928–2011 Rep McGrath 18 Grant H. Pearson 1900–1978 Dem McKinley Park 19 Frank X. Chapados 1914–2007 Dem Fairbanks Joseph R. "Bob" GiersdorfAppointed January 29, 1960, to replace outgoing Sen. Hubert Gilbert for the second session, but re-assumed his old seat February 2, 1960. Edmund N. Orbeck (D) filled his House seat in the interim. 1935–2003 Dem Fairbanks Richard J. Greuel 1928–2013 Dem Fairbanks Robert E. Sheldon 1883–1983 Dem Fairbanks Warren A. Taylor 1891–1980 Dem Fairbanks 20 R.S. McCombe 1902–1985 Dem Chicken 21 John Nusunginya 1927–1981 Dem Point Barrow 22 John E. Curtis 1915–1999 Rep Kotzebue 23 Robert R. Blodgett 1920–1990 Dem Nome Charles E. Fagerstrom 1905–1962 Dem Nome 24 Axel C. Johnson 1911–1985 Dem Kwiguk Leadership Speaker of the House: Warren A. Taylor (D-Fairbanks) See also List of Alaska State Legislatures 2nd Alaska State Legislature, the legislature following this one List of governors of Alaska List of speakers of the Alaska House of Representatives {AKLeg.gov} Notes External links Photos of individual and assembled members of the 1st Alaska State Legislature, as hosted at Alaska's Digital Archives Senate, in chambers Senate, on capitol steps Senate, collage of official photos House, in chambers House, on capitol steps House, collage of official photos Members of the 1st State Legislature who were also members of the 23rd Territorial Legislature Legislative staff William E. Beltz, Irene E. Ryan and Warren A. Taylor conferring William E. Beltz at Senate President's desk Howard C. Bradshaw Frank E. Cashel Frank X. Chapados John B. "Jack" Coghill Blanche L. (Preston) McSmith Ralph E. Moody accepting formal acknowledgement of Alaskan statehood in Boston, Massachusetts, September 1958 Thomas B. Stewart Alaska Category:1960 in Alaska Alaska 01