ALEUT ELARY GROMOFF DIED–1ST NATIVE ALASKAN WEST POINT GRADUATE

Gromoff was born on St. Paul Island, Alaska, on June 7, 1949. He was his class valedictorian at Mt. Edgecumbe High School. The first Alaskan Native to graduate from United States Military Academy at West Point, Elary served in the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers for over 20 years retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After proudly serving his country, Gromoff returned to Alaska, with his family. He followed in his father’s footsteps and pursued a passion for serving the Aleut people of Alaska. Elary spent his career working for various Native Corporations. At the time of his passing, Gromoff was Chairman on the Tanadgusix Corporation Board of Directors and serving on The Aleut Corporation Board of Directors.
Source: “Elary Gromoff (1949-2017),” Anchorage Daily News, 8/19/2017. Retrieved 7/8/2019, https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/adn/obituary.aspx?n=elary-gromoff&pid=186322484&fhid=16963 Photo: U.S. Army, circa 1971. Public Domain.