Steve Cowper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Steve Cowper
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Cowper in 1990
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| 6th Governor of Alaska | |
| In office December 1, 1986 – December 3, 1990 |
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| Lieutenant | Steve McAlpine |
| Preceded by | Bill Sheffield |
| Succeeded by | Wally Hickel |
| Member of the Alaska House of Representatives from the 20th district |
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| In office January 20, 1975 – January 14, 1979 |
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| Preceded by | Multi-member district |
| Succeeded by | Multi-member district |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Stephen Cambreleng Cowper
August 21, 1938 Petersburg, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses | Deanna Elizabeth Blanco (divorced) Margaret Stewart (1985–1991) (divorced) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (BA, LLB) |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Unit | Army Medical Corps United States Army Reserve |
Stephen Cowper, born on August 21, 1938, is an American politician. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He served as the sixth governor of Alaska from 1986 to 1990. During his time as governor, a major event happened: the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989.
Today, Cowper is the CEO of Steve Cowper & Associates. He also serves on the boards of companies that deal with energy in the US and Canada.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Stephen Cowper was born in 1938 in Petersburg, Virginia. He grew up in Kinston, North Carolina. He went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. There, he earned degrees in arts and law.
After college, he served in the United States Army Medical Corps and the United States Army Reserve. For three years, he worked as a lawyer focusing on shipping laws in Norfolk, Virginia. In 1968, Cowper moved to Fairbanks, Alaska. He worked as an assistant district attorney there.
Political Journey
In 1974, Cowper was elected to the Alaska House of Representatives. This is part of Alaska's state government that makes laws. He served two terms, which means he was elected twice.
While in the House, he led important committees. For example, he was chairman of the Finance Committee from 1977 to 1978. In 1982, Cowper tried to become governor but did not win the Democratic nomination.
Serving as Governor of Alaska (1986–1990)
Cowper ran for governor again in 1986. This time, he won the Democratic nomination. He then won the general election on November 4, 1986. He received 47% of the votes.
As governor, Cowper suggested bringing back a state income tax. This was to help fix a large money shortage in the state. He also wanted to make the University of Alaska's international study program bigger. He hoped to create an International Trade Center. Governor Cowper also focused on teaching foreign languages and cultures in schools. In early 1989, he announced he would not run for re-election. This decision surprised some people.
After Being Governor
After his time as governor, Cowper continued to be involved in public and private work. In 1991, he was a visiting fellow at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. He also co-chaired the Pacific Rim Fisheries Conference in 1994 and 1997.
Since 1991, he has been the CEO of Steve Cowper & Associates. This group gives advice to companies and governments about energy projects. He has also been on the boards of many energy companies in the US and Canada. As of 2010, Cowper lives in Austin, Texas.
