What Alaskan do Alaskans admire most? In a big, statewide survey back in April, we asked 2,379 Alaskans who they admired most! Alaska Survey Research April 16-19, 2026 N=2,379 MOE: +/-2.0% Methodology: Text-to-online and ASR Survey Panel .
Q: What Alaskan, living or not, do you admire most? 109 Alaskans were named by at least two different respondents… hundreds more were single mentions, but that list would be too long!
OK, here are the results…
#1 – Jay Hammond (1922-2005) Bush pilot, outdoorsman, mayor, legislator, the “Bush Rat” Governor 1974-1982. Architect of the Permanent Fund. “One thing I’ve learned in politics: if you stay in office long enough, everybody eventually disagrees with you.”
#2 – Ted Stevens (1923-2010) Uncle Ted. World War II veteran, US Senator for Alaska 1968-2009. Champion of Alaska infrastructure, fisheries, Alaska Native Claims legislation. Creator of the Denali Commission. “To hell with politics, just do what’s right for Alaska.”
#3 – Elizabeth Peratrovich (1911-1958) Tlingit civil rights leader. Advocated for passage of Alaska’s Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945. “I would not have expected that I, who am barely out of savagery, would have to remind gentlemen with 5,000 years of recorded civilization behind them of our Bill of Rights.”
#4 – Wally Hickel (1919-2010) Businessman, hotelier, visionary. Alaska Governor 1966-1969, Secretary of the Interior under Nixon 1969-1970, Alaska Governor 1990-1994 again! “We should use our resources and use them wisely. That’s what Alaska is all about.”
#5 – Mary Peltola (1973-) Alaska Native, commercial fisher, legislator, pragmatist. US Congresswoman 2022-2024. Advocate for sustainable fisheries, responsible resource development and rural Alaska communities. “Fish, family and freedom!”
#6 – Susan Butcher (1954-2006) Legendary dog musher, winner of the Iditarod 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1990. Second female winner. First three-peat winner. “I never know what’s going to happen in a race. That’s why I race.”
#7 – Bob Ross (1942-1995) US Air Force based at Eielson AFB 1961-1981. Painter, art teacher, television host of “The Joy of Painting” 1983-1994. Popularized “wet on wet” oil painting technique. “I think there’s an artist hidden at the bottom of every single one of us.”
#8 – Don Young (1933-2022) Teacher, Fort Yukon mayor, legislator. Congressman for all Alaska 1973-2022. Known for his blunt and irascible style, he fiercely advocated for Alaska projects and her people.
#9 – Dick Proenneke (1916-2003) Naturalist, carpenter, wilderness homesteader. Built his cabin at Twin Lakes in the Lake Clark region, living there for 30 years. An enduring symbol of Alaskan self-reliance. “One must be outdoors enough to get where the fresh air is.”
#10 – Tony Knowles (1943-) US Army in Vietnam 1967-1971. Restaurateur, Assemblyman, Mayor of Anchorage 1982-1987, Governor of Alaska 1994-2002. Promoted bipartisan cooperation in public office. “You can’t eat scenery.”
#11 – Lisa Murkowski (1957-) Attorney, State House Representative 1999-2002, US Senator 2002-. Controversially appointed to the Senate by her father. Fiercely independent, she often breaks with her party on major issues. “I work for Alaska. I don’t work for my party.”
#12 – Balto (1919-1933) Siberian Husky sled dog, team leader. Saved countless lives by helping deliver life-saving diphtheria antitoxin to Nome in the 1925 serum run. Honored with statues in Palmer, Alaska and in Central Park, New York. “Woof!”
#13 – William Seward (1801-1872) Honorary Alaskan. Governor of New York 1839-1842, US Senator 1849-1861, US Secretary of State 1861-1869. Counseled Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg. Negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million. “The North is the future!”
#14 – Bill Egan (1914-1984) Mayor of Valdez, Territorial House Representative & Senator 1946-1959. Elected first Governor of Alaska 1959-1966 and again in 1970-1974. Advocated for passage of the Alaska Statehood Act in 1958. “The strength of Alaska lies in its people.”
#15 – Sarah Palin (1964-) Mayor of Wasilla, Governor of Alaska 2006-2009. Tapped by Senator John McCain to be his Vice-President nominee in 2008. Lost, and then quit as Governor in 2009. Ghost wrote some books. “You can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska.”
#16 – Hobo Jim (1952-2022) Prolific Alaskan folk singer-songwriter, known as the “Balladeer of the Last Frontier”. Particularly admired for his bravery in facing his end of life. “I would like to say I am not afraid. I have never feared death as I am good with my Lord.”
#17 – Kikkan Randall (1982-) Cross-country skier, five-time Olympian, cancer survivor, health advocate. First woman to win a gold medal in cross-country skiing (Team sprint – 2018 Pyongyang). “Dream big, work hard, and surround yourself with people who believe in you.”
#18 – Vic Fischer (1924-2023) Planner, educator, delegate to the 1955 Alaska Constitutional Convention, Territorial House Representative 1957-1959, State Senator 1981-1987. Architect of modern Alaska. “Democracy is not a spectator sport.”
#19 – Dan Sullivan (1964-) Ohioan by birth, attorney, Marine Corps colonel. Served as Alaska Attorney General and as Commissioner of Natural Resources under Governor Sean Parnell. US Senator for Alaska since 2015. “The Arctic is Alaska, and Alaska is America’s Arctic.”
#20 – Jewel Kilcher (1974-) Singer-songwriter, author, actress, advocate for youth mental health. Went big time in 1995 with “Pieces of You”, selling 13 million copies. Founded the Inspiring Children Foundation in 1999. “Happiness is a skill that can be learned.”
#21 – Benny Benson (1912-1972) Young designer of the Alaska State Flag in 1927
#22 – Herman of Alaska (1756-1837) Orthodox monk, missionary, protector of Alaska Natives
#23 – Leonhard Seppala (1877-1967) Legendary dog musher in the 1925 Serum run to Nome
#24 – Dee Dee Jonrowe (1957-) Iditarod musher, cancer survivor, known for fairness and endurance
#25 – Joe Redington Sr (1917-1999) “Father of the Iditarod”, dog mushing visionary
#26 – Joe Vogler (1913-1993) Founder of the Alaska Independence Party, AK secession advocate
#27 – Togo (1913-1929) Seppala lead dog, hero of the 1925 Serum Run
#28 – Mike Dunleavy (1961-) Current Governor of Alaska
#29 – Wyatt Earp (1848-1929) Nome saloon owner, gambler, lawman, Tombstone gunslinger
#30 – Norman Vaughan (1905-2005) Adventurer, Antarctic explorer, dogsled racer
#31 – Ernest Gruening (1887-1974) Territorial Governor, advocate of Alaska statehood
#32 – Ben Eielson (1893-1929) Pioneer of Alaska aviation and airmail service
#33 – Alissa Pili (2001-) Alaska Native basketball star in the WNBA
#34 – Sidney Huntington (1915-2015) Athabascan elder, author and outdoorsman
#35 – Dan from Alaska Survey Research The chirpy texter of ASR texts
#36 – Bill Walker (1951-) Businessman, attorney, Alaska Governor 2014-2018
#37 – Don Sheldon (1921-1975) Bush pilot, mountaineer, Denali aviator, Mountain House builder
#38 – Nick Begich III (1982-) Alaska Congressman, 2024 to present
#39 – Mark Begich (1962-) Businessman, Anchorage Mayor 2003-2009 and US Senator for Alaska 2009-2015
#40 – Carlos Boozer (1981-) Alaska NBA All-Star, Olympic gold medalist
#41 – George Attla (1933-2015) The “Huslia Hustler”, famed Athabascan sprint musher
#42 – Sean Parnell (1962-) Attorney, Alaska Governor 2009-2015, UAA Chancellor
#43 – Frank Glaser (1885-1965) Trapper, musher, naturalist, documented Alaska frontier life
#44 – Scotty Gomez (1979-) NFL ice hockey star, Stanley Cup champion
#45 – Katie John (1915-2013) Athabascan elder, landmark subsistence rights champion
#46 – Lance Mackey (1970-2022) Four-time, four-peat Iditarod champion, 2007-2010
#47 – Dick Griffith (1934-2018) Iditarod co-founder, musher and educator
#48 – Margaret Murie (1902-2003) Conservationist, author, advocate for the creation of ANWR
#49 – Milo Fritz (1909-2000) Bush pilot, legislator, physician in rural Alaska
#50 – Sydney Lawrence (1865-1940) Alaska’s “Painter Laureate”, renowned for paintings of Denali
Here are #51 to #109…
#51 – Austin Lathrop #52 – Fran Ulmer #53 – Arliss Sturgulewski #54 – Stan Stephens #55 – Skookum Jim #56 – William Riker #57 – Ada Blackjack #58 – Clem Tillion #59 – Mike Gravel #60 – Walter Harper #61 – Bob Bartlett #62 – Jack London #63 – Mother Alice Lawrence #64 – Libby Riddles #65 – Floyd #66 – Emil Notti #67 – Martin Buser #68 – Glenn Hackney #69 – Ed Rasmuson #70 – Nora Guinn #71 – Bernadette Wilson #72 – Felix Pedro #73 – Dave Bronson #74 – Urban Rahoi #75 – Edward Hoffmann #76 – Santa Claus #77 – Joelle Hall #78 – John Schaeffer #79 – Willie Hensley #80 – Fred Machetanz #81 – Mr. Whitekeys #82 – Bruce Botelho #83 – Nick Hanson #84 – Quannah Chasinghorse #85 – Jessie Holmes #86 – Mead Treadwell #87 – Sheldon Jackson #88 – Russ Arnold #89 – Steve Henson #90 – Fred Dyson #91 – Francis Hurley #92 – Gladys Jung #93 – Frank Murkowski #94 – Jimmy Doolittle #95 – Bob Reeve #96 – Mario Chalmers #97 – Dermot Cole #98 – Michelle Overstreet #99 – Matt Schultz #100 – Bettye Davis #101 – Katie Hurley #102 – Luke Nichols #103 – Charlie Etok Edwards #104 – James Cook #105 – Fannie Quigley #106 – Anne Zink #107 – Mary Peratrovich #108 – Verna Pratt #109 – Molly Hootch
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is all we got…
