Robert Atwood
Encyclopedia
Robert Bruce Atwood was the long-time editor and publisher of the Anchorage Times
, and a proponent of Alaska
statehood.
, and in 1932, married social worker Evangeline Rasmuson. They had two daughters, Marilyn and Elaine.
in 1935. With the help of his father-in-law, he purchased the struggling Anchorage Daily Times. Under his guidance, it became Alaska's largest daily newspaper.
In 1949, the Alaska Territorial Legislature formed the Alaska Statehood Committee, appointing Atwood as Chairman. His pro-statehood lobbying efforts included visits to Washington, D.C.
and a steady stream of articles in his newspaper, such as a 1955 editorial where he argued that whereas commonwealth status was "wonderful" for Puerto Rico
, "it wouldn't give Alaskans self-government, control of resources, tax exemptions or any of a number of benefits claimed by its supporters here."
In 1954, Atwood partnered with brother-in-law Elmer E. Rasmuson
to invest in the lease of potential oil fields on the Kenai Peninsula
. The investment was to yield a fortune after Richfield Oil (merged into ARCO
in 1966) discovered oil in 1957 near the Swanson River
.
On June 30, 1958, the United States Senate
passed the bill admitting Alaska into the Union. Atwood's Anchorage Daily Times celebrated with a headline in six-inch type: “WE’RE IN.”
On January 3, 1959, Atwood was present (along with Senators Edward L. Bartlett and Ernest Gruening
, Representative Ralph J. Rivers and Territorial Governors Waino Hendrickson and Michael Anthony Stepovich
) in the White House
Cabinet Room when President Dwight Eisenhower signed the proclamation that made Alaska the 49th state admitted into the United States
.
.
In 1987, Atwood's wife, Evangeline Rasmuson Atwood, died. The Alaska Center for the Performing Arts
was constructed in 1989, with the largest performance space designated as the Evangeline Atwood Concert Hall.
In 1990, Robert Atwood stepped down as editor and sold the Anchorage Times (as the Anchorage Daily Times had been renamed) to Bill Allen of petroleum services giant VECO.
Atwood's daughter Marilyn died in 1994. Robert B. Atwood died on January 10, 1997.
In 1998, the Robert B. Atwood Building at 550 W. Seventh Avenue in Anchorage was named by the Alaska State Legislature. The Atwood name also appears in the Atwood Center at Alaska Pacific University
.
Anchorage Times
The Anchorage Times was a daily newspaper published in Anchorage, Alaska that became known for the pro-business political stance of longtime publisher and editor, Robert Atwood. Competition from the McClatchy-owned Anchorage Daily News forced it out of business in 1992.-History:The Anchorage Times...
, and a proponent of 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...
statehood.
Biography
"Bob" Atwood was born March 31, 1907 in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Clark UniversityClark University
Clark University is a private research university and liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts.Founded in 1887, it is the oldest educational institution founded as an all-graduate university. Clark now also educates undergraduates...
, and in 1932, married social worker Evangeline Rasmuson. They had two daughters, Marilyn and Elaine.
Anchorage Times and Alaska statehood
Atwood moved to Anchorage, AlaskaAnchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
in 1935. With the help of his father-in-law, he purchased the struggling Anchorage Daily Times. Under his guidance, it became Alaska's largest daily newspaper.
In 1949, the Alaska Territorial Legislature formed the Alaska Statehood Committee, appointing Atwood as Chairman. His pro-statehood lobbying efforts included visits to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and a steady stream of articles in his newspaper, such as a 1955 editorial where he argued that whereas commonwealth status was "wonderful" for Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, "it wouldn't give Alaskans self-government, control of resources, tax exemptions or any of a number of benefits claimed by its supporters here."
In 1954, Atwood partnered with brother-in-law Elmer E. Rasmuson
Elmer E. Rasmuson
Elmer E. Rasmuson was an Alaskan banker and philanthropist. He was Mayor of Anchorage from 1964 to 1967.-Origins and education:...
to invest in the lease of potential oil fields on the Kenai Peninsula
Kenai Peninsula
The Kenai Peninsula is a large peninsula jutting from the southern coast of Alaska in the United States. The name Kenai is probably derived from Kenayskaya, the Russian name for Cook Inlet, which borders the peninsula to the west.-Geography:...
. The investment was to yield a fortune after Richfield Oil (merged into ARCO
ARCO
Atlantic Richfield Company is an oil company with operations in the United States as well as in Indonesia, the North Sea, and the South China Sea. It has more than 1,300 gas stations in the western part of the United States. ARCO was originally formed by the merger of East Coast-based Atlantic...
in 1966) discovered oil in 1957 near the Swanson River
Swanson River
The Swanson River is a 96-km-long river on the Kenai Peninsula of south central Alaska. It runs generally northwest from Swanson Lake to the Cook Inlet north of Kenai, Alaska. The river is in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge....
.
On June 30, 1958, the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
passed the bill admitting Alaska into the Union. Atwood's Anchorage Daily Times celebrated with a headline in six-inch type: “WE’RE IN.”
On January 3, 1959, Atwood was present (along with Senators Edward L. Bartlett and Ernest Gruening
Ernest Gruening
Ernest Henry Gruening was an American journalist and Democrat who was the Governor of the Alaska Territory from 1939 until 1953, and a United States Senator from Alaska from 1959 until 1969.-Early life:...
, Representative Ralph J. Rivers and Territorial Governors Waino Hendrickson and Michael Anthony Stepovich
Michael Anthony Stepovich
Michael Anthony "Mike" Stepovich is an American lawyer who, from 1957 to 1958, served as the last Governor of Alaska Territory. Following his education and military service during World War II, Stepovich established a law practice in his home town of Fairbanks, Alaska and began his political...
) in the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
Cabinet Room when President Dwight Eisenhower signed the proclamation that made Alaska the 49th state admitted into the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Philanthropy and retirement
In 1962, Atwood endowed the Atwood Foundation to promote education and the arts. In 1979, he established the Atwood Chair of Journalism at the University of Alaska AnchorageUniversity of Alaska Anchorage
The University of Alaska Anchorage is the largest school of the University of Alaska System, with about 16,500 students, about 14,000 of whom attend classes at Goose Lake, its main campus in Anchorage....
.
In 1987, Atwood's wife, Evangeline Rasmuson Atwood, died. The Alaska Center for the Performing Arts
Alaska Center for the Performing Arts
The Alaska Center for the Performing Arts is a performance venue in downtown Anchorage in the U.S. state of Alaska. Opened in 1989, it entertains over 200,000 patrons annually, and consists of three theaters:...
was constructed in 1989, with the largest performance space designated as the Evangeline Atwood Concert Hall.
In 1990, Robert Atwood stepped down as editor and sold the Anchorage Times (as the Anchorage Daily Times had been renamed) to Bill Allen of petroleum services giant VECO.
Atwood's daughter Marilyn died in 1994. Robert B. Atwood died on January 10, 1997.
Legacy
At the time of his death, Robert Atwood was collaborating with journalist John Strohmeyer on a biography. After Atwood's death, Strohmeyer completed the work under the title Alaska Titan. But before it could be published, Atwood's daughter, Elaine, sued to prevent it from being distributed. In 1999, Strohmeyer and Elaine Atwood entered into an agreement giving Elaine Atwood two years to produce her own biography, to be entitled Bob Atwood's Alaska. Bob Atwood's Alaska did not appear until after Elaine Atwood's death in 2003.In 1998, the Robert B. Atwood Building at 550 W. Seventh Avenue in Anchorage was named by the Alaska State Legislature. The Atwood name also appears in the Atwood Center at Alaska Pacific University
Alaska Pacific University
Alaska Pacific University is a small liberal arts college located in Anchorage, Alaska, that emphasizes experiential and active learning...
.