Bill Sheffield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bill Sheffield
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Sheffield, 1989
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| 5th Governor of Alaska | |
| In office December 6, 1982 – December 1, 1986 |
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| Lieutenant | Steve McAlpine |
| Preceded by | Jay Hammond |
| Succeeded by | Steve Cowper |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Jennings Sheffield Jr.
June 26, 1928 Spokane, Washington, U.S. |
| Died | November 4, 2022 (aged 94) Anchorage, Alaska, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | DeVry University |
| Signature |  |
William Jennings Sheffield Jr. (June 26, 1928 – November 4, 2022) was an American Democratic politician who was the fifth governor of Alaska from 1982 to 1986. Sheffield's term in the governor's mansion was marked by controversy including attempts to have him impeached.
Background
Sheffield was born in Spokane, Washington. He served in the United States Army from 1946 to 1949 and went to DeVry University, then DeForest Training School. Sheffield moved to Alaska in 1953 to sell and service home appliances for Sears. He became active in the local chamber of commerce group, where his participation enabled him to overcome a severe stutter. Sheffield later founded a hospitality business, Sheffield Enterprises, that grew to own and operate 19 Sheffield House hotels across Alaska and in Whitehorse, Yukon. He sold the business to Holland America Line in 1987.
In addition to his business career, Sheffield was involved in politics and government as a Democrat, and was a delegate to numerous local, state, and national party conventions. He served on the Anchorage Planning Commission from 1960 to 1963, and the Anchorage Charter Commission in 1976. In addition, Sheffield served as chair of the state parole board and the University of Alaska Foundation Board.
He died at his Anchorage home on November 4, 2022. He was 94.
Political career
While governor, Sheffield pushed an unpopular bill through the Alaska state legislature to consolidate the state's time zones. Prior to the passage of this bill, Alaska was spread over four time zones (Pacific, Yukon, Alaska-Hawaii, and Bering). Sheffield's bill placed virtually the entire state (with the sole exception of the Aleutians, starting just west of Dutch Harbor) into the Yukon Time Zone (which was then renamed the Alaska Time Zone). Initially, this was poorly received; those in the panhandle lost their sense of unity with the west coast of the United States, and those in the heartland of the state were placed, in effect, in a perpetual daylight saving time. More than twenty years later, the state legislature was still debating the issue, with some members wanting to return the panhandle and capital to Seattle time, and with others claiming that Sheffield broke his promise to revisit the change after a one-year trial period.
After leaving the position of Governor, Sheffield served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Alaska Railroad from 1985 to 1997. In 1997 he was promoted to President and CEO of the railroad, where he served until 2001. As of 2008, he was on the railroad's Board of Directors as Vice Chairman.
See also
In Spanish: Bill Sheffield para niños
