Alaska Mining Hall of Fame Honorees g 3 mining pioneers honored for their accomplishments
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T hree pioneers of Alaska min- ing history were inducted into the Alaska Hall of Fame Foundation during November’s annu- al convention in Anchorage. The 2019 honorees are Donald Blasko, John Mulligan and Thomas Pittman. The Alaska Mining Hall of Fame SZYZ]^PL]Wd,WL^VLXTYP]^LYOZʬP]^ a glimpse back in history to the early miners in our state, as well as the har- dy determination these pioneers need- ed to be successful before statehood. AT^T_ bbbLWL^VLXTYTYRSLWWZʬLXP org to learn more about the Alaska Mining Hall of Fame, to see past in- ductees and to view their contributions to mining in Alaska. Here’s a look back at the most re- cent inductees:
became a full-time employee of the Bureau and conducted petroleum re- source studies throughout the Rocky Mountain States. In 1964, Don was given the assignment of establishing L [P_]ZWP`X ]P^Z`]NP ZʯNP QZ] _SP Bureau in Anchorage, Alaska. 3P L]]TaPO TY ,YNSZ]LRP U`^_ ʭaP months after the March 27, 1964 PL]_S\`LVP LYO Z[PYPO _SP ZʯNP TY _SP ML^PXPY_ ZQ _SP ZWO [Z^_ ZʯNP building on Fourth Avenue. He was a regular at the Bert’s Drug Store cof- fee counter just across G Street and held many successful luncheon meet- ings at that establishment. Soon after he became an active member of the Alaska Geologic Society and held vari- ous positions within the organization. ?ST^ ZʯNP WL_P] _]LY^T_TZYPO TY _SP
Donald Blasko (1935-2009)
Donald Paul Blasko was born in Rock Springs on May 25, 1935, the son of Benedict and Elsie Blasko. He attended schools in Rock Springs and SPW[PO ST^ [L]PY_^ bT_S _SPT] NLQ± TY his formative years. Don graduated from the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor’s Degree in Petroleum En- gineering with summers spent work- ing for the federal government on the Big Sandy-Farson irrigation project in southeast Wyoming. During his college years, Don worked part-time for the U.S. Bureau of Mines Petroleum Research Cen- ter in Laramie. Upon graduation he
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The Alaska Miner
January 2020
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