APRIL 27, 1912

INUPIAQ ALASKAN LEGISLATOR BILL BELTZ BORN

Beltz was born on the Seward Peninsula, Haycock, Alaska (AK), studied at home, apprenticed as a carpenter, and later was elected President of the Alaska Council of Carpenters. As a Democrat, Bill served as a member of the House in the Alaska Territorial House of Representatives (1949), Territorial Senate (1951-59), and State Senate (1959-1960) where he was unanimously elected to serve as president of the first State Senate. He remained in the Senate until November 21, 1960, when he died in Anchorage, AK. Nome-Beltz Junior/Senior High School was named in his honor because of his efforts to provide education for rural residents. A conference room in the Thomas B. Stewart Legislative Office Building was named for Beltz.

Sources:

“Obituary for William Beltz, FEB 1961,” Obituaries - Trails To The Past.  Retrieved 1/2/2023, Obituary for William Beltz, FEB 1961 - Obituaries - Trails To The Past (ourfamtree.org)

“William Beltz,” 100 Years of Alaska's Legislature, Alaska Legislature.  Retrieved 1/2/2023, 100 Years of Alaska's Legislature (akleg.gov)

Wikipedia

Photo:  State of Alaska, undated.  Public Domain.  Source: 100 Years of Alaska's Legislature (akleg.gov).