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{{short description|American engineer and 5th Governor of Alaska Territory (1883-1984)}}
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'''George Alexander Parks''' (May 29, 1883 – May 11, 1984) was an American engineer who worked in [[Alaska Territory]] for most of his career. Following an unexpected nomination from President [[Calvin Coolidge]], he became the territory's first resident governor. As governor, he was the first person to serve two complete four-year terms and the first chief executive to travel extensively by air.<ref name="ADNobit">{{cite news |title=Territorial Governor George Parks Dies |page=B1 |newspaper=Anchorage Daily News |date=May 12, 1984 | url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-B8fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=facEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5952,6470430 }}</ref>
'''George Alexander Parks''' (May 29, 1883 – May 11, 1984) was an American engineer who worked in [[Alaska Territory]] for most of his career. Following an unexpected nomination from President [[Calvin Coolidge]], he became the territory's first resident governor. As governor, he was the first person to serve two complete four-year terms and the first chief executive to travel extensively by air.<ref name="ADNobit">{{cite news |title=Territorial Governor George Parks Dies |page=B1 |newspaper=Anchorage Daily News |date=May 12, 1984 | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-B8fAAAAIBAJ&pg=5952,6470430 }}</ref>


==Background==
==Background==
Parks was born to James and Mary Leach (Ferguson) Parks on May 29, 1883 in [[Denver]], Colorado. He was educated in public schools before graduating from the [[Colorado School of Mines]] in 1906. After graduation he worked as a mining engineer in Canada, Mexico, and the Western United States before arriving in Alaska in 1907 as part of an engineering team tasked with making evaluations for a group of investors.<ref name="McMullin & Walker">{{cite book |last=McMullin |first=Thomas A. |last2=Walker |first2=David |title=Biographical Directory of American Territorial Governors |publisher=Meckler Publishing|location=Westport, CT |year=1984 | isbn = 0-930466-11-X | pages=18–20}}</ref>
Parks was born to James and Mary Leach (Ferguson) Parks on May 29, 1883, in [[Denver]], Colorado. He was educated in public schools before graduating from the [[Colorado School of Mines]] in 1906. After graduation, he worked as a mining engineer in Canada, Mexico, and the Western United States before arriving in Alaska in 1907 as part of an engineering team tasked with making evaluations for a group of investors.<ref name="McMullin & Walker">{{cite book |last1=McMullin |first1=Thomas A. |last2=Walker |first2=David |title=Biographical Directory of American Territorial Governors |publisher=Meckler Publishing |location=Westport, CT |year=1984 |isbn=0-930466-11-X |pages=[https://archive.org/details/biographicaldire0000mcmu/page/18 18–20] |url=https://archive.org/details/biographicaldire0000mcmu/page/18 }}</ref>


[[File:George Alexander Parks in Camp c 1915.jpg|thumb|left|Parks in a field camp, c. 1915]]
[[File:George Alexander Parks in Camp c 1915.jpg|thumb|left|Parks in a field camp, c. 1915]]
In 1908, Parks worked for the [[United States Land Office]] in Denver as a mineral examiner for two months before taking a similar position in Alaska.<ref name="McMullin & Walker"/> Following the American entry into World War I, he joined the [[Army Corps of Engineers]].<ref name="NYTobit">{{cite news |title=George A. Parks, 100; Was Alaska Governor |page=34 |newspaper=New York Times |date=May 13, 1984 }}</ref> Rising to the rank of [[Captain (land)|captain]] by the war's end, he returned to the Land office after his military service.<ref name="McMullin & Walker"/>
In 1908, Parks worked for the [[United States Land Office]] in Denver as a mineral examiner for two months before taking a similar position in Alaska.<ref name="McMullin & Walker"/> Following the [[American entry into World War I]], he joined the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|Army Corps of Engineers]].<ref name="NYTobit">{{cite news |title=George A. Parks, 100; Was Alaska Governor |page=34 |newspaper=New York Times |date=May 13, 1984 }}</ref> Rising to the rank of [[Captain (land)|captain]] by the war's end, he returned to the Land office after his military service.<ref name="McMullin & Walker"/>


In 1920, Parks was appointed Chief of the [[United States Land Office]] in Juneau. Four years later he was in Anchorage working as Assistant Supervisor of Surveys of Public Lands for Alaska.<ref name="McMullin & Walker"/> During his time with the land office, he traveled extensively throughout the territory, gaining an intimate knowledge of the geography and becoming acquainted with both the white and indigenous populations of Alaska.<ref name="real alaskan">{{cite news |title='Real Alaskan' Chosen to Govern Territory |page=XX8 |newspaper=New York Times |date=March 8, 1925 }}</ref>
In 1920, Parks was appointed Chief of the [[United States Land Office]] in Juneau. Four years later he was in Anchorage working as Assistant Supervisor of Surveys of Public Lands for Alaska.<ref name="McMullin & Walker"/> During his time with the land office, he traveled extensively throughout the territory, gaining an intimate knowledge of the geography and becoming acquainted with both the white and indigenous populations of Alaska.<ref name="real alaskan">{{cite news |title='Real Alaskan' Chosen to Govern Territory |page=XX8 |newspaper=New York Times |date=March 8, 1925 }}</ref>


==Governorship==
==Governorship==
While President [[Warren G. Harding]], [[Hubert Work]], and [[Herbert Hoover]] were visiting Alaska, Parks was assigned as a tour guide for the dignitaries. The group was impressed by their guide's detailed knowledge of the territory. When President [[Calvin Coolidge]] was later looking for a new territorial governor, Work and Hoover, who by then were both members of the [[Cabinet of the United States|Presidential Cabinet]], recommended Parks.<ref name="real alaskan"/> Coolidge nominated Parks to be Governor of Alaska Territory on February 14, 1925 and the new governor took his oath of office on June 17, 1925.<ref name="appointment">{{cite news |title=Parks is Nominated Governor of Alaska |page=2 |newspaper=New York Times |date=February 15, 1925 }}</ref><ref name="oath of office">{{cite news |title=New Governor for Alaska |page=2 |newspaper=New York Times |date=June 18, 1925 }}</ref>
While President [[Warren G. Harding]], [[Hubert Work]], and [[Herbert Hoover]] were visiting Alaska, Parks was assigned as a tour guide for the dignitaries. The group was impressed by their guide's detailed knowledge of the territory. When President [[Calvin Coolidge]] was later looking for a new territorial governor, Work and Hoover, who by then were both members of the [[Cabinet of the United States|Presidential Cabinet]], recommended Parks.<ref name="real alaskan"/> Coolidge nominated Parks to be Governor of Alaska Territory on February 14, 1925, and the new governor took his oath of office on June 17, 1925.<ref name="appointment">{{cite news |title=Parks is Nominated Governor of Alaska |page=2 |newspaper=New York Times |date=February 15, 1925 }}</ref><ref name="oath of office">{{cite news |title=New Governor for Alaska |page=2 |newspaper=New York Times |date=June 18, 1925 }}</ref>


Transportation was a major issue for the territory during the Parks administration. To offset running deficits and reduced federal subsidies, rates for the [[Alaska Railroad]] were raised and a toll was implemented on the [[Richardson Highway]]. One area that saw an improvement however was air travel. In 1925 funds for landing fields was authorized by the territorial legislature. Two years later subsidized air travel between the Alaska Railroad and [[Seward Peninsula]] was initiated. Parks became an avid enthusiast of air travel, using it to inspect much of the territory in May and June 1929.<ref name="McMullin & Walker"/> The speed and increased mobility even allowed him to attend his niece's graduation in California.<ref name="Flies">{{cite news |title=Governor Flies From Alaska |page=18 |newspaper=San Jose News |date=May 13, 1984 | url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9VIiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Q6QFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6258,6586195}}</ref>
Transportation was a major issue for the territory during the Parks administration. To offset running deficits and reduced federal subsidies, rates for the [[Alaska Railroad]] were raised and a toll was implemented on the [[Richardson Highway]]. One area that saw an improvement however was air travel. In 1925 funds for landing fields was authorized by the territorial legislature. Two years later subsidized air travel between the Alaska Railroad and [[Seward Peninsula]] was initiated. Parks became an avid enthusiast of air travel, using it to inspect much of the territory in May and June 1929.<ref name="McMullin & Walker"/> The speed and increased mobility even allowed him to attend his niece's graduation in California.<ref name="Flies">{{cite news |title=Governor Flies From Alaska |page=18 |newspaper=San Jose News |date=May 13, 1984 | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9VIiAAAAIBAJ&pg=6258,6586195}}</ref>


Much of Parks' term of office was largely uneventful. Among the issues he dealt with were the reduction in federal funding for the [[United States Geological Survey]] and elimination of the territory's agricultural experimentation stations.<ref name="McMullin & Walker"/> He also initiated a contest among school children to design a [[Flag of Alaska|territorial flag]].<ref name="Obit">{{cite news |title=George Parks |page=A17 |newspaper=Toledo Blade |date=May 13, 1984 | url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FQAaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LA4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6798,6018334 }}</ref>
Much of Parks' term of office was largely uneventful. Among the issues he dealt with were the reduction in federal funding for the [[United States Geological Survey]] and elimination of the territory's agricultural experimentation stations.<ref name="McMullin & Walker"/> He also initiated a contest among school children to design a [[Flag of Alaska|territorial flag]].<ref name="Obit">{{cite news |title=George Parks |page=A17 |newspaper=Toledo Blade |date=May 13, 1984 | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FQAaAAAAIBAJ&pg=6798,6018334 }}</ref>


Parks was reappointed for a second term by President [[Herbert Hoover]] on September 27, 1929.
Parks was reappointed for a second term by President Hoover on September 27, 1929.
<ref name="reappointment">{{cite news |title=Names Alaska Governor |page=4 |newspaper=New York Times |date=Sep 28, 1929 }}</ref> He left office on April 19, 1933 following the completion of his term.<ref name="ADNobit"/><ref name="McMullin & Walker"/>
<ref name="reappointment">{{cite news |title=Names Alaska Governor |page=4 |newspaper=New York Times |date=Sep 28, 1929 }}</ref> He left office on April 19, 1933, following the completion of his term.<ref name="ADNobit"/><ref name="McMullin & Walker"/>


==Later life==
==Later life==
After leaving the governor's office, Parks settled in Juneau and became District [[cadastre|Cadastral]] Engineer of Alaska.<ref name="McMullin & Walker"/> He remained there until his retirement from the [[Bureau of Land Management]] in July 1948.<ref name="retirement">{{cite news |title=
After leaving the governor's office, Parks settled in Juneau and became District [[cadastre|Cadastral]] Engineer of Alaska.<ref name="McMullin & Walker"/> He remained there until his retirement from the [[Bureau of Land Management]] in July 1948.<ref name="retirement">{{cite news |title=Parks Quits Alaska Job |page=20 |newspaper=New York Times |date=July 4, 1948 }}</ref> After leaving government service, he worked for the R.J. Sommers Construction Company and became Vice-President of the First National Bank of Juneau.<ref name="ADNobit"/>
Parks Quits Alaska Job |page=20 |newspaper=New York Times |date=July 4, 1948 }}</ref> After leaving government service, he worked for the R.J. Sommers Construction Company and became Vice-President of the First National Bank of Juneau.<ref name="ADNobit"/>


During the mid-1970s, Parks was forced to leave his Juneau apartment and move into a [[nursing home]]. In 1975, the [[George Parks Highway|Parks Highway]] (Alaska Route 3) between [[Anchorage, Alaska|Anchorage]] and [[Fairbanks, Alaska]] was named in his honor.<ref name="Parks Highway">{{cite news |title=Parks Highway |page=4 |newspaper=Anchorage Daily News |date=July 16, 1975 | url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oD8dAAAAIBAJ&sjid=16YEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5027,1440414 }}</ref> Parks died on May 11, 1984 at the age of 100 in Juneau, Alaska.<ref name="ADNobit"/>
Parks never married. During the mid-1970s, Parks was forced to leave his Juneau apartment and move into a [[nursing home]]. In 1975, the [[George Parks Highway|Parks Highway]] (Alaska Route 3) between [[Anchorage, Alaska|Anchorage]] and [[Fairbanks, Alaska]], was named in his honor.<ref name="Parks Highway">{{cite news |title=Parks Highway |page=4 |newspaper=Anchorage Daily News |date=July 16, 1975 | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oD8dAAAAIBAJ&pg=5027,1440414 }}</ref> Parks died on May 11, 1984, at the age of 100 in Juneau, Alaska.<ref name="ADNobit"/>


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
{{Portal|Biography}}
{{Portal|Alaska|Biography}}
* [http://vilda.alaska.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/cdmg21&CISOPTR=2416&REC=13 Alaska's Digital Archives] – Photo taken May 29, 1982, as incumbent governor [[Jay Hammond]] and others celebrate his 99th birthday.
* [http://vilda.alaska.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/cdmg21&CISOPTR=2416&REC=13 Alaska's Digital Archives] – Photo from his 99th birthday party, held at [[Bartlett Regional Hospital|Bartlett Memorial Hospital]] in Juneau on May 29, 1982. [[Jay Hammond]] (then [[governor of Alaska]]) and [[Dora M. Sweeney]] join Parks's niece in serving him [[birthday cake]].


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{{Succession box|title=[[Earliest serving US governor]] | before=[[William H. McMaster]] | after=[[Alfred M. Landon]] | years=1968–1984}}
{{Succession box|title=Earliest serving US governor | before=[[William H. McMaster]] | after=[[Alfred M. Landon]] | years=1968–1984}}
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{{Governors of Alaska}}
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{{Persondata<!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] -->
|NAME = Parks, George Alexander
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
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|SHORT DESCRIPTION = American engineer and 5th Governor of Alaska Territory
|DATE OF BIRTH = 1883-05-29
|PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Denver]], Colorado
|DATE OF DEATH = 1984-05-11
|PLACE OF DEATH = [[Juneau, Alaska]]
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parks, George Alexander}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parks, George Alexander}}
[[Category:1883 births]]
[[Category:1883 births]]
[[Category:1984 deaths]]
[[Category:1984 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American politicians]]
[[Category:Alaska Republicans]]
[[Category:Alaska Republicans]]
[[Category:People from Denver, Colorado]]
[[Category:American Disciples of Christ]]
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[[Category:People from Juneau, Alaska]]
[[Category:American mining engineers]]
[[Category:American mining engineers]]
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[[Category:Burials at Evergreen Cemetery (Juneau, Alaska)]]
[[Category:Governors of Alaska Territory]]
[[Category:Governors of Alaska Territory]]
[[Category:American centenarians]]
[[Category:American men centenarians]]
[[Category:American Disciples of Christ]]
[[Category:Politicians from Denver]]

Latest revision as of 09:27, 30 June 2024

George Alexander Parks
5th Governor of Alaska Territory
In office
June 17, 1925 – April 19, 1933
Nominated byCalvin Coolidge
Preceded byScott Cordelle Bone
Succeeded byJohn Weir Troy
Personal details
Born(1883-05-29)May 29, 1883
Denver, Colorado
DiedMay 11, 1984(1984-05-11) (aged 100)
Juneau, Alaska
Political partyRepublican
ProfessionMining engineer, Cadastre

George Alexander Parks (May 29, 1883 – May 11, 1984) was an American engineer who worked in Alaska Territory for most of his career. Following an unexpected nomination from President Calvin Coolidge, he became the territory's first resident governor. As governor, he was the first person to serve two complete four-year terms and the first chief executive to travel extensively by air.[1]

Background

[edit]

Parks was born to James and Mary Leach (Ferguson) Parks on May 29, 1883, in Denver, Colorado. He was educated in public schools before graduating from the Colorado School of Mines in 1906. After graduation, he worked as a mining engineer in Canada, Mexico, and the Western United States before arriving in Alaska in 1907 as part of an engineering team tasked with making evaluations for a group of investors.[2]

Parks in a field camp, c. 1915

In 1908, Parks worked for the United States Land Office in Denver as a mineral examiner for two months before taking a similar position in Alaska.[2] Following the American entry into World War I, he joined the Army Corps of Engineers.[3] Rising to the rank of captain by the war's end, he returned to the Land office after his military service.[2]

In 1920, Parks was appointed Chief of the United States Land Office in Juneau. Four years later he was in Anchorage working as Assistant Supervisor of Surveys of Public Lands for Alaska.[2] During his time with the land office, he traveled extensively throughout the territory, gaining an intimate knowledge of the geography and becoming acquainted with both the white and indigenous populations of Alaska.[4]

Governorship

[edit]

While President Warren G. Harding, Hubert Work, and Herbert Hoover were visiting Alaska, Parks was assigned as a tour guide for the dignitaries. The group was impressed by their guide's detailed knowledge of the territory. When President Calvin Coolidge was later looking for a new territorial governor, Work and Hoover, who by then were both members of the Presidential Cabinet, recommended Parks.[4] Coolidge nominated Parks to be Governor of Alaska Territory on February 14, 1925, and the new governor took his oath of office on June 17, 1925.[5][6]

Transportation was a major issue for the territory during the Parks administration. To offset running deficits and reduced federal subsidies, rates for the Alaska Railroad were raised and a toll was implemented on the Richardson Highway. One area that saw an improvement however was air travel. In 1925 funds for landing fields was authorized by the territorial legislature. Two years later subsidized air travel between the Alaska Railroad and Seward Peninsula was initiated. Parks became an avid enthusiast of air travel, using it to inspect much of the territory in May and June 1929.[2] The speed and increased mobility even allowed him to attend his niece's graduation in California.[7]

Much of Parks' term of office was largely uneventful. Among the issues he dealt with were the reduction in federal funding for the United States Geological Survey and elimination of the territory's agricultural experimentation stations.[2] He also initiated a contest among school children to design a territorial flag.[8]

Parks was reappointed for a second term by President Hoover on September 27, 1929. [9] He left office on April 19, 1933, following the completion of his term.[1][2]

Later life

[edit]

After leaving the governor's office, Parks settled in Juneau and became District Cadastral Engineer of Alaska.[2] He remained there until his retirement from the Bureau of Land Management in July 1948.[10] After leaving government service, he worked for the R.J. Sommers Construction Company and became Vice-President of the First National Bank of Juneau.[1]

Parks never married. During the mid-1970s, Parks was forced to leave his Juneau apartment and move into a nursing home. In 1975, the Parks Highway (Alaska Route 3) between Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska, was named in his honor.[11] Parks died on May 11, 1984, at the age of 100 in Juneau, Alaska.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Territorial Governor George Parks Dies". Anchorage Daily News. May 12, 1984. p. B1.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h McMullin, Thomas A.; Walker, David (1984). Biographical Directory of American Territorial Governors. Westport, CT: Meckler Publishing. pp. 18–20. ISBN 0-930466-11-X.
  3. ^ "George A. Parks, 100; Was Alaska Governor". New York Times. May 13, 1984. p. 34.
  4. ^ a b "'Real Alaskan' Chosen to Govern Territory". New York Times. March 8, 1925. p. XX8.
  5. ^ "Parks is Nominated Governor of Alaska". New York Times. February 15, 1925. p. 2.
  6. ^ "New Governor for Alaska". New York Times. June 18, 1925. p. 2.
  7. ^ "Governor Flies From Alaska". San Jose News. May 13, 1984. p. 18.
  8. ^ "George Parks". Toledo Blade. May 13, 1984. p. A17.
  9. ^ "Names Alaska Governor". New York Times. September 28, 1929. p. 4.
  10. ^ "Parks Quits Alaska Job". New York Times. July 4, 1948. p. 20.
  11. ^ "Parks Highway". Anchorage Daily News. July 16, 1975. p. 4.
[edit]
Political offices
Preceded by Territorial Governor of Alaska
1925–1933 		Succeeded by
Honorary titles
Preceded by Earliest serving US governor
1968–1984 		Succeeded by


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