Robert W. Ward
| Robert W. Ward | |
|---|---|
| 1st Lieutenant Governor of Alaska | |
|
In office August 25, 1970 – December 7, 1970 |
|
| Governor | Keith Harvey Miller |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | H. A. Boucher |
| 3rd Secretary of State of Alaska | |
|
In office January 29, 1969 – August 25, 1970 |
|
| Governor | Keith Harvey Miller |
| Preceded by | Keith Harvey Miller |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Robert Walter Ward November 26, 1929 Addy, Washington, U.S. |
| Died | April 3, 1997 (aged 67) Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Parents | Floyd Ward Eunice Ward |
Robert Walter Ward (November 26, 1929 – April 3, 1997) was an American electrician, businessman, and government executive, and Republican politician from the U.S. state of Alaska. He was the third Secretary of State of Alaska from 1969 to 1970, and was the last person to serve under that title, as the title was changed to Lieutenant Governor by a constitutional amendment passed by voters on August 25, 1970 making him the first Lieutenant Governor of Alaska.
Robert Ward was born in Addy, Washington to Floyd and Eunice Ward, and grew up in northeastern Washington. He moved to Ketchikan, Alaska in 1954 to work as an electrician at the Ketchikan Pulp Company, who had opened a pulp mill in the community that same year. Ward remained with Ketchikan Pulp until 1966, becoming head of the electrical department.
Ward began his political career when he was elected to the Ketchikan city council in 1961. He later became the first chairman of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough when it was established in late 1963.
Newly elected Governor Walter Hickel appointed Ward as Alaska commissioner of administration in late 1966. It was in this position that he became the Secretary of State. One of the responsibilities of Alaska's governor is to craft an order of succession from amongst the cabinet officers. When Hickel resigned to become the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Keith Miller, the elected Secretary of State, became governor. Ward, as the next in line, became Secretary of State.
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