A native of New York, Hammond moved to Alaska in 1946, where he was a bush pilot, trapper, wildlife biologist, hunting guide, commercial fisherman, and, he later said, “a reluctant politician.” He served 12 years in the state legislature and two terms as governor of the state, where he made his decisions based on three main criteria: the proposal must be environmentally sound, pay its own way, and be wanted by the people.
As the governor when the trans-Alaskan oil pipeline was opened in 1977, Hammond did the unthinkable: he decreed that a portion of the state’s revenues from the pipeline be shared with the citizens of the state — in cash. The resulting “permanent fund” pays each Alaskan citizen about $1,000 per year. Hammond also helped expand the state’s tourism industry, but demanded that development be balanced with conservation efforts.
A Republican, Hammond surrounded himself with the best no matter what their party. Hammond was “an incredibly good governor because he was a good listener and he wanted to do what was right, and not the first thing that came to his head,” says Former Lt. Gov. Fran Ulmer, a Democrat. Hammond died in his sleep at his Alaska home on August 2. He was 83.