George Sharrock
Encyclopedia
George Sharrock was Mayor of Anchorage from 1961-1964. He is sometimes known as "The Earthquake Mayor" for having been in office during the devastating Good Friday Earthquake
of 1964, and for his work in the aftermath.
. He came to Alaska
in 1947 to work for Pacific Northern Airlines, which was later merged into Western Airlines
.
He served in the Anchorage Assembly from 1959 to 1961, when he was elected Mayor. In the wake of the earthquake, he decided not to run for re-election. In 1972, he was appointed Commissioner of Commerce by Governor Walter Hickel. In 1973, he was appointed Chairman of the Federal Field Committee for Development Planning in Alaska by President Richard Nixon
.
He died from complications of a fall March 6, 2005 at the age of 94. He had a son, Patrick and a daughter, Diane, with his wife, Pauline.
Good Friday Earthquake
The 1964 Alaska earthquake, also known as the Great Alaskan Earthquake, the Portage Earthquake and the Good Friday Earthquake, was a megathrust earthquake that began at 5:36 P.M. AST on Good Friday, March 27, 1964...
of 1964, and for his work in the aftermath.
Biography
George Sharrock was born May 2, 1910 in Muskingum County, OhioMuskingum County, Ohio
Muskingum County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 86,074. Its county seat is Zanesville...
. He came to Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
in 1947 to work for Pacific Northern Airlines, which was later merged into Western Airlines
Western Airlines
Western Airlines was a large airline based in California, with operations throughout the Western United States, and hubs at Los Angeles International Airport, Salt Lake City International Airport, and the former Stapleton International Airport in Denver...
.
He served in the Anchorage Assembly from 1959 to 1961, when he was elected Mayor. In the wake of the earthquake, he decided not to run for re-election. In 1972, he was appointed Commissioner of Commerce by Governor Walter Hickel. In 1973, he was appointed Chairman of the Federal Field Committee for Development Planning in Alaska by President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
.
He died from complications of a fall March 6, 2005 at the age of 94. He had a son, Patrick and a daughter, Diane, with his wife, Pauline.