[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 49 (Thursday, March 27, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S1815]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       REMEMBERING CLAUS-M. NASKE

 Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President. Dr. Claus-M. Naske, a giant in the 
field of history in Alaska, passed away on March 5, 2014. I would like 
to honor him and his accomplishments as an educator, historian and 
family man.
  Claus emigrated to Alaska in 1954 and moved to Fairbanks in 1957 to 
attend the University of Alaska Fairbanks, graduating with double 
majors in political science and history. He obtained his doctorate from 
Washington State University and joined the University of Alaska 
Fairbanks faculty in 1969, starting his long and illustrious career as 
a teacher, mentor, researcher, author and administrator.
  Claus was a professor of history at the University of Alaska 
Fairbanks until 2001. He not only taught, researched and wrote, he was 
the director of the University of Alaska Press until 2004. Managing the 
university's press office added to Dr. Naske's workload, but it was 
evidence of his love for scholarly work.
  Claus authored and co-authored over a dozen books, including ones on 
two prominent political Alaskan political figures, Bob Bartlett and 
Ernest Gruening and several on Alaska's history. His book Alaska: A 
History, in its third edition, is considered the preeminent record of 
our great State. We owe a great debt of gratitude to Claus for his 
dedication and persistence as a historian, one who will long be 
remembered.
  Claus received many well-deserved awards throughout his life, 
including the 2012 Distinguished Alumnus Award, the 2001 Usibelli Award 
for Research, the 1997 Alumni Award for Professional Excellence, and 
the 1995 Award of Merit by the Western History Association--to name a 
few.
  Claus married Dinah in 1960 and had two children: Natalia-Michelle 
Nan-geak and Nathaniel-Michael Noah. He and his wife have been generous 
to UAF, establishing a history scholarship and making regular donations 
to the campus public radio station.
  Claus-M. Naske will go down in history with a sterling reputation as 
a scholar, teacher and father.

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