Alaska's Governors

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

1. Which of the following served as the first governor of Alaska by virtue of the fact that he was the Russian American Company's first chief manager? Alexander Baranov Dmitri Maksutov Ferdinand Wrangel Vitus Bering

2. Alaska's first American governor was a military commander, representing the US Army's authority there from 1868. What other much more famous American leader of the period shared his name? Jefferson Davis Andrew Jackson Robert E. Lee William Sherman

3. In 1884, Alaska was recategorized as a district of the union. John G. Brady was the governor of the district from 1897-1906. Before he took this office, though, he co-founded the Sitka Industrial and Training School to help local natives. What is the current name of that institution? Ilisagvik College University of Alaska Sitka Sheldon Jackson College Prince William Sound Community College

4. The status of territory was given in 1912. Who was the very accomplished and popular territorial governor from 1939-53 who later served as a US Senator until his life of official public service was effectively ended with a loss to Mike Gravel in the Democratic primary of 1968? Bob Bartlett George Alexander Parks Ernest Gruening Michael Anthony Stepovich

5. World War II brought a temporary reworking of the governorship in Alaska and it was again under military authority. Lt. General ____ ____ Buckner functioned as a kind of governor of the territory and its defenses from 1941-44. Interestingly, he was an avowed Southern racist. Can you fill in the blanks with his, somewhat ironic, non-Anglo namesake? Mohammed Elijah Simon Bolivar Mahatma Ghandi Frederick Douglass

6. Though two of its territorial governors were born in Alaska, only one state governor was born there. Who was this Democrat who served as the first (and fourth) governor of the state of Alaska? Walter Hickel William Egan Keith Miller Jay Hammond

7. Another governor to be elected to two non-successive terms was Walter J. Hickel. He was the second governor of the state, but why did he resign that position in 1969? to become Secretary of the Interior to run for the US Senate because he was under fire for financial mismanagement for health reasons

8. Which governor oversaw the creation of the Alaska Permanent Fund program? Bill Sheffield Tony Knowles William Egan Jay Hammond

9. Arliss Sturgulewski was the first woman to become a major party candidate for the governor's office of Alaska, that in 1986. A Republican, she eventually lost the general election to what Democratic nominee? Steve Cowper Tony Knowles Walter Hickel Frank Murkowski

10. Finally, a question to get us up to the year 2007. Sarah Palin became the first female (and youngest) governor in Alaskan history when she took office in December 2006. What was the highest elected office she had held previously? Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska Alaska State Senator Lt. Governor of Alaska Alaska State Representative