Viewing page 41 of 168
This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.
[[left margin]] Dear Son Roy & Toby: It was good to see you folks. Thought you would enjoy the enclosed copy of an Editorial. Share it with your uncle or better yet I am enclosing one for him since I do not have his current address. Will send you pictures when they become available. Was good to see you both. I am so proud of you, son. Love, Dad [[/left margin]] EDITORIAL PAGE The Anchorage Times ROBERT B. ATWOOD Editor and Publisher WILLIAM J. TOBIN Associate Editor And General Manager CLINTON T. ANDREWS JR. Managing Editor Page 10 Thursday, October 11, 1979 Roy Peratrovich A RETIREMENT PARTY was held last night for Roy Peratrovich. It was a happy occasion as friends paid tribute to him for his 39 years in government service, bit it was really no retirement party at all. It would be more accurate to call it a change-of-station party because Peratrovich has no intention of retiring. Peratrovich is stepping down as superintendent of the Anchorage agency for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He will take charge of a new office to be opened in Anchorage, representing Sealaska, a native corporation which, although based in Southeastern Alaska, has something like 900 stockholders living in Anchorage. THE SIGNIFICANCE of this change of station is worthy of note. Peratrovich is one of the last of the more courageous natives who braved the perils of treading the uncertain path that took Alaska from territorial status to full-fledged statehood —— a route that was difficult and not always popular. His qualities of leadership brought his appointment as special law and order officer for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1946. That was the start of his long career OF government service that carried him to the top BIA position in Alaska. As a federal employee, Peratrovich helped his native people understand the new civilization that was growing up around them. And he helped the leaders in Washington understand the need for special consideration to meet the needs of Alaska natives. His work was a service to natives and non-natives alike. IN HIS NEW POST he can continue to serve. He now becomes a private enterpriser that is operated for purposes of making a profit. He now has the task of helping his native people understand the intricacies of corporate law and procedures, sound economics, cash flow pro-format reports and the other ramifications of operating a business. This could be important to the whole world. The Alaska natives must be a success in their new position as enterprisers. Their success will redound to the benefit of all Alaskans and, indeed, all Americans. It could have worldwide implications if the great fathers in Washington were to learn that, instead of giving money as foreign aid to distant governments, they would do better to establish the equivalent of the Alaska native corporations to spearhead the development of backwards nations. It is because the natives have leaders like Roy Peratrovich and his family that their prospects for success are so bright.
