14 Facts About Morris Thompson

Morris "Morrie" Thompson was an Alaska Native leader, American businessman and political appointee working on matters related to Alaska Natives.

In 1966, Thompson met Walter Hickel, an Anchorage businessman who was running for governor at the time; Morris volunteered to work on Hickel's campaign in Fairbanks and the Interior.

The next year as executive director of Hickel's North Commission, Morris Thompson began working on a network of transportation routes to open rural Alaska to development.

When President Nixon named Hickel to serve as Secretary of the Interior in 1969, Morris Thompson went to Washington, DC, as special assistant for the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

In 1970, young Morris Thompson became the Bureau of Indian Affairs Area Director in Juneau.

In both Interior jobs, Morris Thompson was deeply involved in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act adopted in December 1971.

Morris Thompson served as the youngest Commissioner of the Bureau of Indian Affairs at 34 years of age.

In 1981, Morris Thompson went to work for Doyon, Limited, his ANCSA Regional Corporation.

Morris Thompson was widely recognized in Alaska as a Native American leader.

At 60 years of age, a resident of Fairbanks, Morris Thompson retired as the President of Doyon.

Morris Thompson died with his wife and daughter in the crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 on January 31,2000, while flying back to the United States.

The new access road was named Morris Thompson Drive in his honor.

Morris Thompson had served on the University of Alaska Board of Regents from 1989 to 1993.

The Morris Thompson Golf Classic is an annual fundraiser established and hosted by Doyon Foundation.