Mike Stepovich

His father, originally called Marko, moved from there to the USA 1892.

His 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.

Michael Anthony Stepovich (March 12, 1919 – February 14, 2014) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the last non-acting Governor of the Territory of Alaska.

Stepovich was born to a well-known Montenegrin miner father, Michael "Wise Mike" Stepovich, and a Croatian mother, Olga (from Sutivan, Brač), in Fairbanks, Alaska, on March 12, 1919.

The Stijepovich family is one of the oldest families in Risan, today Montenegro.

Stepovich was educated in parochial schools and Portland's Columbia Preparatory School before enrolling at the University of Portland in 1937.

He 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.

After completing his law degree, Stepovich enlisted in the United States Navy and was assigned to Camp Parks' legal office.

After three-and-a-half years of military service, he was discharged as a yeoman third class.

Following his discharge in 1947, he returned to Portland for a short time to court his future wife before moving to Fairbanks, Alaska.

In Fairbanks, he took his bar examination, was appointed city attorney by the end of the year, and established a private practice.

Stepovich began his political career in 1950 when, running as a Republican, he won a seat in the Alaska Territorial House of Representatives.

Two year later he advanced to take a seat in the Alaska Territorial Senate.

He remained in the senate for two terms, becoming the minority leader in 1955.

The appointment of Stepovich as Governor of Alaska Territory came as a result of a recommendation by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Fred Seaton.

Seaton had traveled to the territory to interview potential candidates following the resignation of Governor B. Frank Heintzleman.

While the Fairbanks attorney had not applied for the position, Seaton was still impressed by him.

Stepovich served as Territorial Governor from 1957 to 1958, and Alaska was given U.S. statehood in 1959.

Stepovich was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, and grew up in Portland, Oregon.

He was a large part in the effort for obtaining Alaska Statehood, beginning with his appointment as governor in 1957.

President Dwight Eisenhower nominated 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.

Much of the new governor's term was spent lobbying for Alaskan statehood.

In this effort he traveled widely through the Continental United States speaking and giving interviews on behalf of the territory.

His efforts even included a January 19, 1958 appearance on the game show What's My Line?

Stepovich was seated in the House Gallery when the House cast their votes on the Alaska Statehood Act.

Upon its passage by the House, Stepovich would celebrate with Delegate E.L. "Bob" Bartlett, as well as New York Representative Leo W. O'Brien, and Pennsylvania Representative John Saylor.

The bill passed, despite opposition from the powerful Chair of the Rules Committee, Virginia Representative Howard Smith & House Minority Leader Joe Martin.

This was namely because of powerful House Speaker Sam Rayburn, who was one of the most influential members of Congress, and heavily backed the Alaska Statehood Act, partially because Alaska was heavily Democratic.

Cheers came from the streets of Alaska as the news came to the soon-to-be state, and an Alaskan native remarked "It's a good thing. I like to see it come on fine. I will enjoy my first vote for President."

President Eisenhower signed the Alaskan Statehood Bill on July 7, 1958.

Following this event, Stepovich issued a proclamation setting the dates for primary and general elections to determine officeholders for the new state, setting the elections for November 25.

The Territorial Governor then resigned on August 1, 1958, to run for a seat in the United States Senate.

Following his departure, Territorial Secretary Waino Edward Hendrickson succeeded as Acting Governor.

Stepovich's bid for a United States Senate seat was unsuccessful.

He was defeated by Ernest Gruening in the November 25, 1958, election, held just before Alaska became a state on January 3, 1959.

His parents had immigrated to the United States from what is now Montenegro and Croatia in the late 19th century.

Following his education and military service during World War II, Stepovich established a law practice in Fairbanks and began his political career by winning three terms in the Alaska Territorial legislature.

During his term as governor, he was a leading advocate in the effort to gain statehood for Alaska.

Following Alaska's admission to the Union, he made an unsuccessful run for a U.S. Senate seat and two unsuccessful attempts to be elected Governor of Alaska.

Stepovich was involved in public service for decades, ranging from his service in World War II to his post-statehood political career.