Egan, William

Egan, William (Allen)

(1914–84) governor; born in Valdez, Alaska. Owner of the Valdez general store, he served in the territorial house of representatives (Dem., 1941–43, 1945–56), sponsoring Alaskan statehood. President of the constitutional convention (1955–56), he drafted the state charter, lobbying for congressional approval afterward. Alaska's first governor (Dem., 1959–67, 1971–75), he worked to harness the state's vast natural resources.