Alaskan of the Year awards are an Alaska tradition dating from 1967.
Alaskan of the Year, Inc., arose out of a 60th birthday party that year, to honor Robert Atwood, publisher of the Anchorage Times.
The corporation gave awards until 2002, when decreased membership made continuation impracticable.
[1] Alaskan of the Year awards have since become projects of the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce and of the Governor's Committee on Employment and Rehabilitation for People with Disabilities.
[2] This event was eventually named the William A. Egan Alaskan of the Year Award.