Younger had served in Congress since 1973, making him the longest-serving member of the Home.
“Born on June 9, 1933, in Meridian, California, Younger grew up on a household farm. He earned a bachelor’s diploma in educating at Chico State Faculty, now often called California State College, Chico, in 1958. He additionally served within the U.S. Military, based on his official biography,” the Related Press reported.
“Younger got here to Alaska in 1959, the identical 12 months Alaska grew to become a state, and credited Jack London’s ‘Name of the Wild,’ which his father used to learn to him, for drawing him north.”
Younger was elected to Congress after serving as mayor of Fort Yukon and spending time within the Alaska Home and Senate. Younger was elected to Congress in 1973 by way of particular election after his opponent within the basic had handed away previous to the election:
In 1972, Younger was the Republican challenger to Democratic U.S. Rep. Nick Begich. Three weeks earlier than the election, Begich’s aircraft disappeared on a flight from Anchorage to Juneau. Alaskans reelected Begich anyway.
Begich was declared useless in December 1972 and Younger received an in depth particular election in March 1973. He held the seat till 2022, and was working for reelection in November.
Younger was identified for blunt speech, in addition to his staunch protection and satisfaction within the Alaskan individuals and state.
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) expressed his condolences by way of Twitter, saying, “Unhappy to listen to of the passing of Don Younger[,] longtime consultant from Alaska[.] he was a pal & devoted public servant[.] God bless his household throughout this tough time[.]”
Unhappy to listen to of the passing of Don Younger longtime consultant from Alaska he was a pal & devoted public servant God bless his household throughout this tough time
— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) March 19, 2022
Libby Bakalar, an Alaskan lawyer and blogger, tweeted, “Don Younger died. He was a legend, prefer it or not (I didn’t). I at all times voted towards him & thought plenty of the stuff he stated & did was terrible, however the man was the longest serving rep in Congress & I feel often had (what he a minimum of felt) had been AK’s finest pursuits at coronary heart. RIP.”
Don Younger died. He was a legend, prefer it or not (I didn’t). I at all times voted towards him & thought plenty of the stuff he stated & did was terrible, however the man was the longest serving rep in Congress & I feel often had (what he a minimum of felt) had been AK’s finest pursuits at coronary heart. RIP.
— One Scorching Mess AK (@libbybakalar) March 19, 2022
“He was vibrant, he had plenty of power, he’s very away from thoughts, spoke clearly about what he wished to perform, set objectives that he wished to make occur, and was comfortable to be working,” Jack Ferguson, Younger’s former chief of workers, stated in an announcement, based on Anchorage Daily News.