1. Michael Anthony Stepovich was an American lawyer and politician who served as the last non-acting Governor of the Territory of Alaska.
19 Facts About Mike Stepovich
1. 2.
Mike Stepovich served as Territorial Governor from 1957 to 1958, and Alaska was given US statehood in 1959.
3.
Mike Stepovich was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, and grew up in Portland, Oregon.
4.
Mike Stepovich's parents had immigrated to the United States from what is Montenegro and Croatia in the late 19th century.
5.
Mike Stepovich was involved in public service for decades, ranging from his service in World War II to his post-statehood political career.
6.
Mike Stepovich was a large part in the effort for obtaining Alaska Statehood, beginning with his appointment as governor in 1957.
7.
Mike Stepovich's parents divorced when he was 6 months old and his mother took him to Portland, Oregon, where he was raised by his mother and stepfather.
8.
Mike Stepovich was educated in parochial schools and Portland's Columbia Preparatory School before enrolling at the University of Portland in 1937.
9.
Mike Stepovich graduated from Gonzaga University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1940 and from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Laws in 1943.
10.
Mike Stepovich began his political career in 1950 when, running as a Republican, he won a seat in the Alaska Territorial House of Representatives.
11.
Mike Stepovich remained in the senate for two terms, becoming the minority leader in 1955.
12.
President Dwight Eisenhower nominated Mike Stepovich for the position on May 9,1957, and he took office on June 5 as the territory's first native-born non-acting governor.
13.
Mike Stepovich was seated in the House Gallery when the House cast their votes on the Alaska Statehood Act.
14.
Mike Stepovich was defeated by Ernest Gruening in the November 25,1958, election, held just before Alaska became a state on January 3,1959.
15.
In 1960, Mike Stepovich campaigned against an unsuccessful ballot initiative to move the state capital from Juneau, Alaska, to Anchorage, Alaska.
16.
Mike Stepovich lost to Wally Hickel in the Republican primary for governor in 1966.
17.
Mike Stepovich remained there until 1978 when he and his wife relocated to Medford, Oregon.
18.
Mike Stepovich was granted an honorary doctorate by the University of Alaska Fairbanks on May 10,2009.
19.
Mike Stepovich died on February 14,2014, after spending six days in a hospital.