Michael Anthony "Mike" Stepovich was an American lawyer and politician who served as the last non-acting 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 career by winning three terms in the Alaska Territorial legislature. During his term as governor, he was a leading advocate in the effort to gain statehood for Alaska. Following Alaska's admission to the Union, he made an unsuccessful run for a U.S. Senate seat and two unsuccessful attempts to be elected Governor of Alaska.
Early life and education
Stepovich was born to a well-known Serbian miner father, Michael "Wise Mike" Stepovich, and a Montenegrin Croat mother, Olga, in Fairbanks, Alaska on March 12, 1919. The Stiepovich family is one of the oldest families in Risan, today Montenegro. His father, originally called Marko, moved from there to the USA 1892. His parents divorced when he was 6 months old and his mother took him to Portland, Oregon, where he was raised by his mother and stepfather. Stepovich was educated in parochial schools and Portland's Columbia Preparatory School before enrolling at the University of Portland in 1937. He graduated from Gonzaga University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1940 and from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Laws in 1943.
Military service
After completing his law degree, Stepovich enlisted in the United States Navy and was assigned to Camp Parks' legal office. After three-and-a-half years of military service, he was discharged as a yeoman third class. Following his discharge in 1947, he returned to Portland for a short time to court his future wife before moving to Fairbanks, Alaska.
Career
In Fairbanks, he took his bar examination, was appointed city attorney by the end of the year, and established a private practice. Stepovich began his political career in 1950 when, running as a Republican, he won a seat in the Alaska Territorial House of Representatives. Two year later he advanced to take a seat in the Alaska Territorial Senate. He remained in the senate for two terms, becoming the minority leader in 1955.
The appointment of Stepovich as Governor of Alaska Territory came as a result of a recommendation by US Secretary of the InteriorFred Seaton. Seaton had traveled to the territory to interview potential candidates following the resignation of Governor B. Frank Heintzleman. While the Fairbanks attorney had not applied for the position, Seaton was still impressed by him. President Dwight Eisenhower nominated Stepovich for the position on May 9, 1957 and he took office on June 5 as the territory's first native-born governor. Much of the new governor's term was spent lobbying for Alaskan statehood. In this effort he traveled widely through the Continental United States speaking and giving interviews on behalf of the territory. His efforts even included a January 19, 1958 appearance on the game show What's My Line? President Eisenhower signed the Alaskan Statehood Bill on July 7, 1958. Following this event, Stepovich issued a proclamation setting the dates for primary and general elections to determine officeholders for the new state. The Territorial Governor then resigned on August 1, 1958 to run for a seat in the United States Senate. Following his departure, Territorial SecretaryWaino Edward Hendrickson succeeded as Acting Governor.
Post-gubernatorial career
Stepovich's bid for a United States Senate seat was unsuccessful. He was defeated by Ernest Gruening in the November 25, 1958 election, held just before Alaska became a state on January 3, 1959. In 1960, Stepovich campaigned against a ballot initiative to move the state capital from Juneau, Alaska to Anchorage, Alaska. Stepovich ran for governor of Alaska in 1962, but was defeated by incumbent William A. Egan by a narrow margin. Stepovich lost to Wally Hickel in the Republican primary for governor in 1966. This was his final campaign for office. Following his unsuccessful Senate run, Stepovich returned to his legal practice in Fairbanks. He remained there until 1978 when he and his wife relocated to Medford, Oregon. Despite the move, the former governor still maintained his legal residence in Fairbanks.
