[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 2289]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         REMEMBERING NEVA EGAN

 Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, today I honor the passing of the 
initial first lady of Alaska, Neva Egan. Desdia Neva McKittrick Egan 
was born in Wilson, KS, on October 3, 1914. The articulate, 
effervescent Alaskan served on hospital boards, school boards, worked 
diligently on community commitments, and continued to attend morning 
meetings of the Commonwealth Club in Anchorage for years. Although she 
was quick to downplay her role in Alaskan history, she had a key 
position as first lady. Neva also accompanied her husband to 
Washington, DC, for 19 months during the period when Alaska was being 
considered for statehood.
  In DC it was a time of adjustment, traffic, ``hot weather'' and big-
city living for the girl from small-town Kansas. After her husband, 
William A. Egan, was elected as Alaska's first Governor, she took great 
pride in supporting him, as well as all the Alaskan legislators and 
their families. She was known to invite legislator's children to the 
Governor's Mansion while living in Juneau during session. Although, 
Neva rarely spoke publicly about politics, she was the firm shoulder on 
which many legislators leaned. She was a strong woman that worked hard 
to care for others behind the scenes when it mattered most.
  Neva was the third in a family of four girls and one boy. She 
graduated from high school in the midst of the Great Depression in 1932 
and then worked for a year in her father's grocery store. After a year, 
she decided to continue her education and attended Kansas State 
College, but soon transferred to be closer to her sister and aunt at 
the University of Wyoming. Quickly, she was recruited to teach in 
Glenrock, WY, for the ``fabulous'' salary of $1,000 a year, while her 
friends were making $25 a month. Her musical background and teaching 
career led her to Valdez, where she expected to only stay a year and 
was told the town was ``a little rough.'' Shortly after she arrived, 
one of the few local guys with a car, a quiet man, who read the 
Congressional Record for fun in junior high school, expressed interest 
in Neva. Apparently, the first date was disastrous, but friends recall 
``love at first sight.''
  William and Neva Egan were married on November 16, 1940, in Valdez. 
It was the same month that William was elected to the Alaska 
Territorial House of Representatives from the Third Judicial Division 
that started his drive into Alaskan political history. As a 
Representative, an advocate pushing for statehood in DC, a Governor, 
and as a family man, there was never any question as to whom William 
could look to for support. Neva was the rock that held up her family. 
While overseeing issues, her son, Dennis Egan who was born in 1947, 
once asked if since Neva is the first lady is he ``the first kid?'' 
Well, that ``first kid'' grew up to be a Juneau radio personality, the 
former mayor of Juneau, and now a State senator.
  Neva was known to start the legislative session with buffet 
receptions for all the Senators and Representatives and their spouses. 
She was consistently the rock that others leaned upon; ironing shirts, 
making beds, and taking the initiative to perform any needed repairs on 
the Governor's Mansion.
  Neva Egan worked hard every day and that resulted in a lifetime of 
contributions to Alaska. Neva is survived by her son Dennis and 
daughter-in-law Linda; her granddaughters and their husbands, Jill Egan 
and Sandy Vergano and Leslie Egan and Tyler Malstrom; and brother 
Richard McKittrick. Neva was preceded in death by her husband William 
Egan, daughter Elin Carol Egan, and sisters Helen Spiegelberg, Margaret 
McKittrick and Josephine Trowbridge. I extend my sympathies to the Egan 
family and feel blessed to come from the same state where she made such 
a difference. May she rest in peace.

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