Mike Stepovich facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mike Stepovich
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Stepovich in 1957
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| 9th Governor of Alaska Territory | |
| In office June 5, 1957 – August 1, 1958 |
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| Lieutenant | Waino Hendrickson |
| Preceded by | Waino Hendrickson (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Waino Hendrickson (Acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Michael Anthony Stepovich
March 12, 1919 Fairbanks, Territory of Alaska, U.S. |
| Died | February 14, 2014 (aged 94) San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Matilda Baricevic |
| Relations | Nicole Burdette (niece) John Stockton (son-in-law) |
| Children | 13 |
| Education | Gonzaga University (BA) University of Notre Dame (LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1943–1947 |
| Rank | Yeoman (Third Class) |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Michael Anthony Stepovich (born March 12, 1919 – died February 14, 2014) was an American lawyer and politician. He served as the last non-acting Governor of the Territory of Alaska. Stepovich was governor from 1957 to 1958. Alaska officially became a U.S. state in 1959.
Stepovich was born in Fairbanks, Alaska. He grew up in Portland, Oregon. His parents moved to the United States from what are now Montenegro and Croatia. After his education and military service in World War II, Stepovich started a law practice in Fairbanks. He began his political career by winning three terms in the Alaska Territorial legislature. As governor, he worked hard to help Alaska become a state. After Alaska joined the U.S., he tried to become a U.S. Senator and ran for Governor of Alaska two times, but he did not win.
Stepovich was involved in public service for many years. This included his time in World War II and his political career after Alaska became a state. He played a big part in helping Alaska become a state, starting when he was appointed Governor in 1957.
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Early Life and Education
Stepovich was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, on March 12, 1919. His father, Michael "Wise Mike" Stepovich, was a well-known Montenegrin miner. His mother, Olga, was Croatian.
His family, the Stijepovich family, is one of the oldest in Risan, which is now Montenegro. His father, originally named Marko, moved to the USA in 1892. When Mike was six months old, his parents divorced. His mother took him to Portland, Oregon, where he was raised by his mother and stepfather.
Stepovich went to parochial schools (private schools run by a church) and Columbia Preparatory School in Portland. In 1937, he started at the University of Portland. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gonzaga University in 1940. He then got a law degree (a Bachelor of Laws) from the University of Notre Dame in 1943.
Military Service
After finishing his law degree, Stepovich joined the United States Navy. He worked in the legal office at Camp Parks. He served in the military for three-and-a-half years. He was discharged in 1947 as a yeoman third class, which is a type of administrative assistant in the Navy.
After leaving the Navy, he went back to Portland for a short time. He then moved to Fairbanks, Alaska.
Political Career
In Fairbanks, Stepovich took his bar examination (a test lawyers must pass to practice law). By the end of that year, he was appointed as the city attorney and started his own law practice.
Stepovich began his political career in 1950. He ran as a Republican and won a seat in the Alaska Territorial House of Representatives. Two years later, he moved up to the Alaska Territorial Senate. He stayed in the Senate for two terms and became the minority leader in 1955.
Governor of Alaska Territory
Stepovich became Governor of Alaska Territory because U.S. Secretary of the Interior Fred Seaton recommended him. Seaton had visited Alaska to find a new governor after Governor B. Frank Heintzleman resigned. Stepovich had not applied for the job, but Seaton was impressed by him.
President Dwight Eisenhower nominated Stepovich for the position on May 9, 1957. He officially became governor on June 5. He was the first non-acting governor born in the territory.
A big part of the new governor's time was spent trying to get Alaska to become a state. He traveled all over the Continental United States. He gave speeches and interviews to support Alaska's statehood. He even appeared on the game show What's My Line? on January 19, 1958.
Helping Alaska Become a State
Stepovich was in the House Gallery when the U.S. House of Representatives voted on the Alaska Statehood Act. When the bill passed, Stepovich celebrated with Delegate E.L. "Bob" Bartlett and other representatives. The bill passed even though some powerful leaders in Congress were against it. This was partly because House Speaker Sam Rayburn strongly supported the bill.
News of the bill passing brought cheers from the streets of Alaska. An Alaskan native said, "It's a good thing. I like to see it come on fine. I will enjoy my first vote for President."
President Eisenhower signed the Alaskan Statehood Bill on July 7, 1958. After this, Stepovich announced the dates for elections to choose leaders for the new state. The elections were set for November 25. The Territorial Governor then resigned on August 1, 1958. He wanted to run for a seat in the United States Senate. After he left, Territorial Secretary Waino Edward Hendrickson became the Acting Governor.
After Being Governor
Stepovich tried to win a United States Senate seat, but he was not successful. He lost to Ernest Gruening in the election on November 25, 1958. Alaska officially became a state on January 3, 1959.
In 1960, Stepovich campaigned against a plan to move the state capital from Juneau, Alaska, to Anchorage, Alaska. The plan did not pass.
Stepovich ran for governor of Alaska again in 1962. He won the Republican nomination but lost to the current Democratic governor, William A. Egan, by a small number of votes.
In 1966, Stepovich lost to Wally Hickel in the Republican primary election for governor. This was his last time running for office.
After his unsuccessful Senate run, Stepovich went back to his law practice in Fairbanks. He stayed there until 1978. Then, he and his wife moved to Medford, Oregon. Even after moving, he still kept his legal home in Fairbanks.
Personal Life
Stepovich married Matilda Baricevic in November 1947. They had 13 children. His daughter Nada married NBA player John Stockton. His niece is the actress and playwright Nicole Burdette.
On November 25, 2003, Stepovich's wife, Matilda, passed away.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks gave Stepovich an honorary doctorate degree on May 10, 2009.
While visiting his son in San Diego, California, Stepovich fell and suffered a head injury. He died on February 14, 2014, after spending six days in a hospital. Stepovich's body was returned to Fairbanks, Alaska. A memorial service was held for him at Sacred Heart Cathedral on February 28, 2014. He was buried at Birch Hill Cemetery.
