Dear Neighbors and Friends,
On April 24, 1956, the citizens of Alaska ratified the Constitution of the State of Alaska, “guaranteeing that the individual will always be in-charge,” and enshrining our shared values of individual freedom, local control, and personal autonomy at the core of our Statehood. In this spirit, last year, the Alaska Legislature passed Senate Bill 28 which established April 24 as Vic Fischer and Jack Coghill Constitution of the State of Alaska Day.
On this first annual Constitution of the State of Alaska Day, I encourage you to take a moment with our State’s Constitution. It is the framework for how our government operates and highlights the values that we as a state hold.
Because of the 55 individuals who drafted Alaska's Constitution, we experience some of the strongest personal freedoms in our nation. I’m thankful for the delegates determination and fortitude in fighting for Alaskans.
On this special day, I especially want to take note of Constitutional Delegates Vic Fischer and Jack Coghill. Fischer and Coghill, part of the younger generation of Alaskans coming of age in the 1950s, were left with the duty to inform future generations of Alaskans about the work the Convention did. 55 Alaskans came together and put aside any differences they had to craft a document that would become a blueprint for the future of the state. Their vision gave us the constitution you see today.
If we know where we’ve come from, we will better attend to where we are going. As Alaska grapples with major questions about its future, we must all take a moment to remember the actions that shaped the state we are today as we focus on the state we wish to become.
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Senator Tom Begich
Senate District J
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Alaska to Celebrate the First Annual Vic Fischer and Jack Coghill Constitution of the State of Alaska Day |
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Today Alaska celebrates the first annual Vic Fischer and Jack Coghill Constitution of the State of Alaska Day. April 24 recognizes that day in 1956 when the citizens of Alaska ratified the Constitution of the State of Alaska, “guaranteeing that the individual will always be in-charge” and enshrining our state’s values of individual freedom, local control, and personal autonomy at the core of our statehood. The 55 delegates to the Alaska constitutional convention provided a visionary template for guided governance that has served this state well.
Vic Fischer and Jack Coghill Constitution of the State of Alaska Day also recognizes the comradery of Alaska’s constitutional convention – where people of different regions, ideologies, and convictions found common ground in the interest of statehood. Vic Fischer and Jack Coghill embraced that vision at its foundation.
On February 13, 2019, Jack Coghill passed away at the age of 93. Vic Fischer currently resides in downtown Anchorage, continuing to advocate for all Alaskans – and Alaska’s Constitution.
The other members of the Alaska Constitutional Convention are Robert Roland Armstrong, Dorothy J. Awes, Frank Barr, John C. Boswell, Seaborn J. Buckalew, E. B. Collins, George D. Cooper, John M. Cross, Edward V. Davis, James P. Doogan, William A. Egan, Truman C. Emberg, Mrs. E.A. (Helen) Fischer, Douglas Gray, Thomas C. Harris, John S. Hellenthal, Mildred R. Hermann, Herb Hilscher, Jack Hinckel, James Hurley, Maurice T. Johnson, Yule F. Kilcher, Leonard H. King, William W. Knight, W. W. Laws, Eldor R. Lee, Maynard D. Londborg, Steve McCutcheon, George W. McLaughlin, Robert J. McNealy, John A. McNees, M. R. Marston, Irwin L Metcalf, Leslie Nerland, James Nolan, Katherine D. Nordale, Frank Peratrovich, Chris Poulsen, Peter L. Reader, Burke Riley, Ralph J. Rivers, Victor C. Rivers, R. E. Robertson, John H. Rosswog, W. O. Smith, B. D. Stewart, George Sundborg, Dora M. Sweeney, Warren A. Taylor, H. R. VanderLeest, M. J. Walsh, Barrie M. White, and Ada B. Wien.
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(907) 465-3704 (Juneau / session)
(907) 269-0169 (Anchorage / interim)
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