Byron Mallott facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Byron Mallott
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| 12th Lieutenant Governor of Alaska | |
| In office December 1, 2014 – October 16, 2018 |
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| Governor | Bill Walker |
| Preceded by | Mead Treadwell |
| Succeeded by | Valerie Davidson |
| Mayor of Juneau | |
| In office October 4, 1994 – February 13, 1995 |
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| Preceded by | Jamie Parsons |
| Succeeded by | Dennis Egan |
| Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs | |
| In office 1972–1974 |
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| Governor | Bill Egan |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Lee McAnerney |
| Mayor of Yakutat | |
| In office 1965–1966 |
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| Preceded by | Jay B. Mallot |
| Succeeded by | Jerry Nelson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Byron Ivar Mallott
April 6, 1943 Yakutat, Alaska, U.S. |
| Died | May 8, 2020 (aged 77) Anchorage, Alaska, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Other political affiliations |
Independent (2014–2018) |
| Spouse | Antoinette Mallott |
| Children | 5 |
| Education | Western Washington University |
Byron Ivar Mallott (born April 6, 1943 – died May 8, 2020) was an important politician and leader from Alaska. He was an Alaska Native of the Tlingit tribe and a respected elder. He served as the 12th Lieutenant Governor of Alaska from December 2014 until October 2018.
Before becoming Lieutenant Governor, Mallott was the mayor of Yakutat and later the mayor of Juneau. He also led the Alaska Federation of Natives and helped manage the Alaska Permanent Fund. In 2014, he ran for Governor of Alaska but joined forces with independent candidate Bill Walker. Mallott became Walker's running mate, and they won the election together. He resigned from his position in October 2018 due to comments he made that were not appropriate.
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Early Life and Education
Byron Ivar Mallott was born on April 6, 1943, in Yakutat, Alaska. His parents were Jay B. Mallott and Emma M. Brown. Byron was a member of the Tlingit tribe, an Alaska Native group. His Tlingit name was Dux̱ da neiḵ, K'oo del ta', which means "a person who would lead us into the future."
His father opened a general store in their home in 1946. Byron grew up in Yakutat. When he was 13, he attended Pius X Mission, a Catholic boarding school. He later graduated from Sheldon Jackson High School. He also studied at Western Washington State College for several years.
Political Career
Byron Mallott's political journey began in 1965. His father, who had been the mayor of Yakutat for a long time, passed away. Byron left college and went back to Yakutat to run for mayor, and he won.
He later took a job in the office of Governor Bill Egan. His work focused on local government issues in Alaska. Mallott became the first Commissioner of the Department of Community and Regional Affairs. This department helps local communities in Alaska.
After Governor Egan's term, Mallott returned to Yakutat and served on the city council. Later, he was appointed to the board of trustees for the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation. This fund is like a big savings account for Alaska, using money from oil. He became chairman of the fund in 1985 and its executive director from 1995 to 2000.
Mayor of Juneau
In 1994, Byron Mallott decided to run for mayor of Juneau. He won the election and became the city's mayor. However, he resigned from this role shortly after. He had been chosen to be the executive director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation. People thought it would be too much to do both jobs, so he chose to focus on the Permanent Fund. Dennis Egan took over as mayor of Juneau.
Lieutenant Governor of Alaska
Running for Office in 2014
In September 2013, Mallott announced he would run for governor of Alaska. He won the Democratic primary election in August 2014.
Then, something unusual happened. Mallott decided to team up with Bill Walker, an independent candidate for governor. They merged their campaigns, meaning Walker ran for governor and Mallott ran as his running mate for lieutenant governor. The Alaska Democratic Party supported their combined ticket. They won the election in November 2014 after a very close race.
Serving as Lieutenant Governor
As Lieutenant Governor, Mallott traveled a lot across Alaska. In his first two years, he flew many miles, showing his dedication to visiting communities.
In 2017, Walker and Mallott decided to run for re-election. However, Mallott resigned from his position on October 16, 2018. He stated that he had made "inappropriate comments" to a woman. After his resignation, Valerie Davidson became the new Lieutenant Governor.
Business and Community Involvement
Byron Mallott was also very active in business and community leadership. In 1972, he joined the Sealaska Corporation, a company owned by Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people. He served as chairman of its board and later as its CEO. He helped create a special fund for Sealaska shareholders, which grew to be worth a lot of money.
He also served on the board of directors for the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. This bank is part of the United States' central banking system.
Beyond business, Mallott was a respected clan leader of the KwaashKiKwaan clan of the Raven tribe in Yakutat. He served as President of the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN), a large organization that represents Alaska Native people. He also led the First Alaskans Foundation, which works to improve the lives of Alaska Natives.
Mallott was involved with the Nature Conservancy of Alaska and the Alaska Public Radio Network. He truly dedicated his life to serving the people of Alaska.
Personal Life and Passing
Byron Mallott was married to Antoinette (Toni) Mallott, who was a retired schoolteacher. They had five children together. The Mallotts lived in Juneau, Alaska.
Byron Mallott passed away on May 8, 2020, at the age of 77, after suffering a heart attack. He is remembered as a dedicated leader who worked hard for Alaska and its people.
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