Byron Mallott
Encyclopedia
Byron I. Mallott is a politician and business executive in the U.S. state
of Alaska
, as well as an Alaska Native leader of Tlingit heritage.
Byron Mallott was born and raised in Yakutat, Alaska, where his father ran a general store
. His political career began in 1965, when his father, the longtime mayor of Yakutat, died. He left college and returned to Yakutat, running to replace him, and was successful. He was only 22 at the time. He left office before the expiration of his term, taking a job in the office of Governor Bill Egan towards the end of Egan's first governorship. His job in the governor's office was focused on local government affairs, one of the few constitutionally mandated executive functions in Alaska.
After Egan lost a re-election bid to Walter Hickel, Mallott returned to Yakutat and served on the city council. He also served as a special assistant to U.S. Senator Mike Gravel
during the early part of Gravel's first term.
Mallott went back to work in the governor's office in 1971, during Egan's second governorship, where he was in charge of local affairs. This office was absorbed into the Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs
when the legislature
created the department the following year. Mallott became the department's first commissioner, serving until 1974.
During this time, Mallott also became a director
of Sealaska Corporation, eventually serving as chairman of the board, as well as president and CEO of the corporation. He retired from Sealaska as CEO in 1992.
Mallott served as Mayor of Juneau from 1994 to 1995 when he resigned, being succeeded by deputy mayor Dennis Egan
, to become the executive director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation. He had previously served on the corporation's board for 8 years, including 3 as chairman. He had also established a permanent fund for Sealaska shareholders during his tenure there, which had grown to a net worth of $100 million (US) by the late 1990s. Mallott was one of 42 applicant for the executive director's position.
Mallott has also served as:
He was also awarded an honorary doctorate in humanities by the University of Alaska.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, as well as an Alaska Native leader of Tlingit heritage.
Byron Mallott was born and raised in Yakutat, Alaska, where his father ran a general store
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
. His political career began in 1965, when his father, the longtime mayor of Yakutat, died. He left college and returned to Yakutat, running to replace him, and was successful. He was only 22 at the time. He left office before the expiration of his term, taking a job in the office of Governor Bill Egan towards the end of Egan's first governorship. His job in the governor's office was focused on local government affairs, one of the few constitutionally mandated executive functions in Alaska.
After Egan lost a re-election bid to Walter Hickel, Mallott returned to Yakutat and served on the city council. He also served as a special assistant to U.S. Senator Mike Gravel
Mike Gravel
Maurice Robert "Mike" Gravel is a former Democratic United States Senator from Alaska, who served two terms from 1969 to 1981, and a former candidate in the 2008 presidential election....
during the early part of Gravel's first term.
Mallott went back to work in the governor's office in 1971, during Egan's second governorship, where he was in charge of local affairs. This office was absorbed into the Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs
Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
The Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development is a department within the government of Alaska. The Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development mission statement is to: "Promoting a healthy economy and strong communities."-External links:*...
when the legislature
Alaska Legislature
The Alaska Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is a bicameral institution, consisting of the lower Alaska House of Representatives, with 40 members, and the upper house Alaska Senate, with 20 members...
created the department the following year. Mallott became the department's first commissioner, serving until 1974.
During this time, Mallott also became a director
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of Sealaska Corporation, eventually serving as chairman of the board, as well as president and CEO of the corporation. He retired from Sealaska as CEO in 1992.
Mallott served as Mayor of Juneau from 1994 to 1995 when he resigned, being succeeded by deputy mayor Dennis Egan
Dennis Egan
Dennis William Egan is a member of the Alaska Senate, representing Juneau, Alaska. He previously served as its mayor from February 13, 1995, to October 3, 2000 and was a member of the local assembly...
, to become the executive director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation. He had previously served on the corporation's board for 8 years, including 3 as chairman. He had also established a permanent fund for Sealaska shareholders during his tenure there, which had grown to a net worth of $100 million (US) by the late 1990s. Mallott was one of 42 applicant for the executive director's position.
Mallott has also served as:
- President of the Alaska Federation of NativesAlaska Federation of NativesThe Alaska Federation of Natives is the largest statewide Native organization in Alaska. Its membership includes 178 villages , thirteen regional native corporations, and twelve regional nonprofit and tribal consortiums that contract and run federal and state programs...
. He has also been awarded as "Citizen of the Year by AFN. - Executive director of the Rural Alaska Community Action Program (1970)
- Chair of the Nature Conservancy of Alaska
- Director of the Alaska Public Radio Network
- Co-chair of the Alaska Commission on Rural Governance and Empowerment, appointed by Governor Tony KnowlesTony Knowles (politician)Anthony Carroll Knowles is an American Democratic politician and businessman who served as the seventh Governor of Alaska from December 1994 to December 2002. Barred from seeking a third consecutive term as governor in 2002, he ran unsuccessfully for Senate in 2004 and again for governor in...
. - Director of the Alaska Commercial Fisheries and Agriculture Bank
He was also awarded an honorary doctorate in humanities by the University of Alaska.