Walter Hickle
Alaska governor and U.S. Secretary of the Interior. Born 1919.
Hickle was a champion amateur boxer in his youth and around 1940 he moved from his home in Kansas to Alaska. Starting with practically nothing, he became a very successful businessman and was elected governor in 1966. He was appointed Secretary of the Interior by President Richard Nixon in 1969 but was fired when the two developed serious political differences.
Hickle returned to Alaska and was eventually re-elected governor in 1990 during some rather odd political happenings. He retired from government after finishing his term and went back into business.
Entry: Hickle, Walter
Author: G. Joseph Pierron
Author information: Judge Pierron serves on the Kansas Court of Appeals and has an interest in Kansas history.
Date Created: March 2012
Date Modified: March 2012
The author of this article is solely responsible for its content.
