Mike Stepovich

2025-10-18T19:55:03Z

2A06:C701:4EDD:8900:16F:B5FF:9B04:BA87: He wasn't ''merely'' acting, but you can't say he wasn't acting! He certainly acted!

{{Short description|American politician (1919–2014)}}

{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Mike Stepovich
| image = File:Mike stepovich portrait.PNG
| caption = Stepovich in 1957
| order = 9th [[List of Governors of Alaska|Governor of Alaska Territory]]
| lieutenant = [[Waino Hendrickson]]
| term_start = June 5, 1957
| term_end = August 1, 1958
| predecessor = Waino Hendrickson (Acting)
| successor = Waino Hendrickson (Acting)
| birth_name = Michael Anthony Stepovich
| birth_date = {{birth date|1919|3|12}}
| birth_place = [[Fairbanks, Alaska|Fairbanks]], [[Territory of Alaska]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2014|2|14|1919|3|12}}
| death_place = [[San Diego]], [[California]], U.S.
| party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| spouse = {{marriage|Matilda Baricevic|1947|2003|end=died}}
| education = [[Gonzaga University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]]) [[University of Notre Dame]] ([[Bachelor of Laws|LLB]])
| allegiance = {{flag|United States}}
| branch = {{flag|United States Navy}}
| serviceyears = 1943–1947
| rank = [[Yeoman (United States Navy)|Yeoman (Third Class)]]
| battles = [[World War II]]
| children = 13
| relations = [[Nicole Burdette]] (niece) [[John Stockton]] (son-in-law) [[Michael Stockton]] (grandson) [[David Stockton]] (grandson)
}}
'''Michael Anthony Stepovich''' (March 12, 1919 – February 14, 2014) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the last non-interim [[List of Governors of Alaska|Governor]] of the [[Territory of Alaska]]. Stepovich served as Territorial Governor from 1957 to 1958, and Alaska was given U.S. statehood in 1959.

Stepovich was born in [[Fairbanks, Alaska]], and grew up in [[Portland, Oregon]]. His parents had immigrated to the United States from what is now [[Montenegro]] and [[Croatia]] in the late 19th century. Following his education and military service during [[World War II]], Stepovich established a law practice in Fairbanks and began his political career by winning three terms in the Alaska Territorial legislature. During his term as governor, he was a leading advocate in the effort to gain statehood for Alaska. Following Alaska's admission to the Union, he made an unsuccessful run for a U.S. Senate seat and two unsuccessful attempts to be elected Governor of Alaska.

Stepovich was involved in public service for decades, ranging from his service in World War II to his post-statehood political career. He was a large part in the effort for obtaining Alaska Statehood, beginning with his appointment as governor in 1957.

==Early life and education==
Stepovich was born to a well-known Montenegrin miner father, Michael "Wise Mike" Stepovich,<ref>"'Wise' Mike Stepovich." Alaska Mining Hall of Fame. Alaska Mining Hall of Fame Foundation, n.d. Web. 11 June 2017.</ref><ref>Karlo, Milan, and Helen Karlo-Vuckovich. Early Days: Serbian Settlers in America: Their Life and times. Tucson, AZ: Karlo, 1984. 70–71. Print.</ref> and a [[Croats|Croatian]] mother, Olga (from [[Sutivan]], [[Brač]]), in [[Fairbanks, Alaska]], on March 12, 1919.<ref name="McMullin & Walker">{{Cite book|last1=McMullin|first1=Thomas A.|last2=Walker|first2=David|title=Biographical Directory of American Territorial Governors|publisher=Meckler Publishing|location=Westport, CT|year=1984|isbn=0-930466-11-X|pages=[https://archive.org/details/biographicaldire0000mcmu/page/25 25–26]|url=https://archive.org/details/biographicaldire0000mcmu/page/25}}</ref>
The Stijepovich family is one of the oldest families in [[Risan]], today Montenegro.<ref>Vuka: Destination Alaska</ref> His father, originally called Marko, moved from there to the USA 1892. His parents divorced when he was 6 months old and his mother took him to [[Portland, Oregon]],<ref name="Time">{{Cite magazine|title=Alaska: Land of Beauty & Swat|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|volume=LXXI|issue=23|date=June 9, 1958|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,868477,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070107054416/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,868477,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 7, 2007}}</ref> where he was raised by his mother and stepfather. Stepovich was educated in [[parochial school]]s and Portland's Columbia Preparatory School before enrolling at the [[University of Portland]] in 1937. He graduated from [[Gonzaga University]] with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in 1940 and from the [[Notre Dame Law School|University of Notre Dame]] with a [[Bachelor of Laws]] in 1943.<ref name="McMullin & Walker"/>

=== Military service ===
After completing his law degree, Stepovich enlisted in the [[United States Navy]] and was assigned to [[Camp Parks]]' legal office.<ref name="McMullin & Walker" /> After three-and-a-half years of military service, he was discharged as a yeoman third class. Following his discharge in 1947, he returned to Portland for a short time to court his future wife before moving to Fairbanks, Alaska.

== Career ==
In Fairbanks, he took his [[bar examination]], was appointed [[city attorney]] by the end of the year, and established a private practice.<ref name="Time" />

Stepovich began his political career in 1950 when, running as a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]], he won a seat in the Alaska Territorial House of Representatives.<ref name="Time"/> Two year later he advanced to take a seat in the Alaska Territorial Senate.<ref name="Life">{{Cite magazine|title=First Homebred Governor Goes to Work in Alaska|magazine=[[Life (magazine)|Life]]|volume=43|issue=6|pages=53–56|date=August 5, 1957|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Lj8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA53}}</ref> He remained in the senate for two terms, becoming the [[minority leader]] in 1955.<ref name="McMullin & Walker"/>

=== Territorial Governor of Alaska ===
[[File:Celebrating alaska statehood.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Stepovich (bottom, second from right) celebrating Alaska becoming a state, January 3, 1959]]
The appointment of Stepovich as Governor of Alaska Territory came as a result of a recommendation by [[U.S. Secretary of the Interior]] [[Fred Seaton]]. Seaton had traveled to the territory to interview potential candidates following the resignation of Governor [[B. Frank Heintzleman]].<ref name="Time"/><ref name="appointment">{{Cite news|title=Stepovich Nominated As Alaska Governor |page=1 |newspaper=Ellensburg Daily Record |date=May 9, 1957 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YX4KAAAAIBAJ&pg=3212,4653792}}</ref> While the Fairbanks attorney had not applied for the position, Seaton was still impressed by him.<ref name="Time"/> President [[Dwight Eisenhower]] nominated Stepovich for the position on May 9, 1957, and he took office on June 5 as the territory's first native-born non-acting governor.<ref name="McMullin & Walker"/><ref name="appointment"/>

Much of the new governor's term was spent lobbying for Alaskan statehood.<ref name="McMullin & Walker"/> In this effort he traveled widely through the [[Continental United States]] speaking and giving interviews on behalf of the territory.<ref name="honorary degree">{{Cite news |title=Last living territorial governor honored at UAF |newspaper=Anchorage Daily News |date=May 30, 2009 |url=http://www.adn.com/2009/05/30/813683/last-living-territorial-governor.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610141946/http://www.adn.com/2009/05/30/813683/last-living-territorial-governor.html |archivedate=June 10, 2011 }}</ref> His efforts even included a January 19, 1958 appearance on the game show ''[[What's My Line?]]''<ref name="Whats My Line">{{Cite news |title=Dec. 16: Big ice melt; polar bears find food on land; Stevens signs his desk; measuring snow by radar; century-old hardware store closes; Tlingit quarterback |newspaper=Anchorage Daily News |date=December 16, 2008 |url=http://www.adn.com/2008/12/16/624766/dec-16-big-ice-melt-polar-bears.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610142011/http://www.adn.com/2008/12/16/624766/dec-16-big-ice-melt-polar-bears.html |archivedate=June 10, 2011 }}</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQd8JPjmkJg What's My Line? – Ralph Bellamy; Ricardo Montalban (panel) (Jan 19, 1958)]</ref>

===Involvement in the Alaska Statehood Act===

Stepovich was seated in the House Gallery when the House cast their votes on the [[Alaska Statehood Act]]. Upon its passage by the House, Stepovich would celebrate with Delegate [[Bob Bartlett|E.L. "Bob" Bartlett]], as well as New York Representative [[Leo W. O'Brien]], and Pennsylvania Representative [[John Saylor]]. The bill passed, despite opposition from the powerful Chair of the Rules Committee, Virginia Representative [[Howard W. Smith|Howard Smith]] & House Minority Leader [[Joseph W. Martin Jr.|Joe Martin]]. This was namely because of powerful House Speaker [[Sam Rayburn]], who was one of the most influential members of Congress, and heavily backed the Alaska Statehood Act, partially because Alaska was heavily [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]. Cheers came from the streets of Alaska as the news came to the soon-to-be state, and an Alaskan native remarked "It's a good thing. I like to see it come on fine. I will enjoy my first vote for President."<ref name="Time"/>

[[File:Mike stepovich we're in.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Stepovich with President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Eisenhower]] and Secretary of the Interior [[Fred Seaton]], c. 1958 or 1959]]
President Eisenhower signed the Alaskan Statehood Bill on July 7, 1958. Following this event, Stepovich issued a proclamation setting the dates for [[Partisan primary|primary]] and [[general election]]s to determine officeholders for the new state, setting the elections for November 25.<ref name="McMullin & Walker"/> The Territorial Governor then resigned on August 1, 1958, to run for a seat in the [[United States Senate]]. Following his departure, [[Secretary of state (U.S. state government)|Territorial Secretary]] [[Waino Edward Hendrickson]] succeeded as Acting Governor.<ref name="resignation">{{Cite news|title=Alaska Governor Resigns for Race |page=8 |newspaper=New York Times |date=August 2, 1958 }}</ref>

=== Post-gubernatorial career ===
Stepovich's bid for a [[United States Senate]] seat was unsuccessful. He was defeated by [[Ernest Gruening]] in the November 25, 1958, election, held just before Alaska became a state on January 3, 1959.<ref name="1958 election results">{{Cite news|first=Lawrence E. |last=Davies |title=Alaska's Democrats Sweep Top Posts in First Election |page=1 |newspaper=New York Times |date=November 27, 1958 }}</ref>

In 1960, Stepovich campaigned against an unsuccessful ballot initiative to move the state capital from [[Juneau, Alaska]], to [[Anchorage, Alaska]].<ref name="capital move">{{Cite news|first=Lawrence E. |last=Davies |title=Alaska is Divided on Capital Shift |page=66 |newspaper=New York Times |date=August 7, 1960 }}</ref>

Stepovich ran for governor of Alaska in 1962, winning the Republican nomination, but was defeated by the Democratic incumbent [[William A. Egan]] by a narrow margin.<ref name="1962 Republican nomination">{{Cite news|title=Alaska Democrats Nominate Gov. Egan |page=8 |newspaper=New York Times |date=August 16, 1962 }}</ref><ref name="1962 election results">{{Cite news|title=Alaska Posts Won by Egan and Rivers |page=38 |newspaper=New York Times |date=November 9, 1962 }}</ref>

Stepovich lost to [[Wally Hickel]] in the Republican primary for governor in 1966. This was his final campaign for office.<ref name="1966 primary results">{{Cite news|first=Lawrence E. |last=Davies |title=Egan Faces a Close Fight for Re-election as Governor of Alaska |page=78 |newspaper=New York Times |date=October 23, 1966 }}</ref>

Following his unsuccessful Senate run, Stepovich returned to his legal practice in Fairbanks.<ref name="McMullin & Walker"/> He remained there until 1978 when he and his wife relocated to [[Medford, Oregon]].<ref name="honorary degree"/> Despite the move, the former governor still maintained his legal residence in Fairbanks.<ref name="McMullin & Walker"/>

==Personal life and family==
Stepovich married Matilda Baricevic in November 1947. The couple had 13 children.<ref name="McMullin & Walker"/> His daughter Nada married [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] player [[John Stockton]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=McCallum|first=Jack|author-link=Jack McCallum|title=Not a Passing Fancy|magazine=Sports Illustrated|volume=68|issue=17|pages=72–78|date=April 25, 1988|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1988/04/25/117551/not-a-passing-fancy-utahs-surprising-john-stockton-is-the-nba-assist-leader-and-he-can-score-and-play-plenty-of-solid-defense-too|accessdate=September 18, 2019}}</ref> His niece is actress and playwright [[Nicole Burdette]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Yardley|first=William|date=2014-02-19|title=Mike Stepovich, Who Led Alaska to Statehood, Dies at 94|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/20/us/mike-stepovich-led-alaska-to-statehood-dies-at-94.html|access-date=2020-05-08|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

On November 25, 2003, Stepovich's wife, Matilda, died.<ref name="matilda death">{{Cite news|title=Obituaries |page=B7 |newspaper=Anchorage Daily News |date=November 30, 2003 |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_text_direct-0=0FF2FA72DE8B3D74&p_field_direct-0=document_id}}</ref>

Stepovich was granted an honorary doctorate by the [[University of Alaska Fairbanks]] on May 10, 2009.<ref name="honorary degree"/>

While visiting his son in [[San Diego, California]], Stepovich suffered a head injury as result of a fall.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_25135571/former-territorial-governor-injured-fall|title=Former Alaska territorial governor injured in fall|date=February 13, 2014|work=San Jose Mercury News|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He died on February 14, 2014, after spending six days in a hospital. At the time of his death, he was the last living former American governor who left office in the 1950s.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/alaska-territorial-gov-stepovich-dies-at-age/article_8196b2ba-95af-11e3-a755-001a4bcf6878.html|title=Alaska Territorial Gov. Stepovich dies at age 94|last=Richardson|first=Jeff|date=February 14, 2014|work=Fairbanks Daily News-Miner}}</ref> Stepovich's body was returned to Fairbanks, Alaska. A memorial service was held for him at [[Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (Fairbanks, Alaska)|Sacred Heart Cathedral]] on February 28, 2014, followed by burial at [[Birch Hill Cemetery]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/family-friends-say-goodbye-to-alaska-territorial-gov-stepovich/article_e9191372-a0f1-11e3-960c-001a4bcf6878.html|title=Family, friends say goodbye to Alaska territorial Gov. Stepovich|last=Richardson|first=Jeff|date=February 28, 2014|work=Fairbanks Daily News-Miner}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://100years.akleg.gov/bio.php?id=1472 Mike Stepovich] at ''100 Years of Alaska's Legislature''

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef
| before = {{nowrap|[[Waino Edward Hendrickson|Waino Hendrickson]]}} Acting
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| title = [[List of Governors of Alaska|Governor of Alaska]]
| years = 1957–1958
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| title = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[List of United States Senators from Alaska|U.S. Senator]] from [[Alaska]] ([[Classes of United States Senators|Class 3]])
| years = [[1958 United States Senate elections in Alaska|1958]]
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| before = [[John Butrovich]]
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| title = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[List of Governors of Alaska|Governor of Alaska]]
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| after = [[Wally Hickel]]
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{{s-end}}

{{Governors of Alaska}}
{{AK Republican gubernatorial nominees}}
{{Republican Alaska Senatorial nominees}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stepovich, Mike}}
[[Category:1919 births]]
[[Category:2014 deaths]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths from falls]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths in California]]
[[Category:Alaska lawyers]]
[[Category:Alaska Republicans]]
[[Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:American people of Croatian descent]]
[[Category:American people of Montenegrin descent]]
[[Category:American people of Serbian descent]]
[[Category:Catholic politicians from Alaska]]
[[Category:Catholics from Oregon]]
[[Category:Gonzaga University alumni]]
[[Category:Governors of Alaska Territory]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Fairbanks, Alaska]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Portland, Oregon]]
[[Category:Members of the Alaska Territorial Legislature]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Fairbanks, Alaska]]
[[Category:Notre Dame Law School alumni]]
[[Category:Politicians from Fairbanks, Alaska]]
[[Category:Politicians from Medford, Oregon]]
[[Category:University of Portland alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century American lawyers]]

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Mike Stepovich