Longtime Fairbanksan, miner, dog trainer Roger Burggraf named Alaskan of the year

FAIRBANKS — When the Alaska Chamber of Commerce named Roger Burggraf the 2014 William Egan Outstanding Alaskan of the Year, the only person surprised was Burggraf.

“I had no inkling,” said the longtime Fairbanksan. “I still am sort of shocked. I’ve just sort of done things as they’ve come along.”

The 82-year-old has dedicated his life in Alaska to causes he believes in, everything from training dogs to mining, resource development and lowering energy costs.

Although the official ceremony was held in Anchorage, his hometown of Fairbanks made sure to honor him publicly at this week’s Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

“It’s quite an honor,” he said, adding. “I knew Bill Egan quite well.”

Burggraf always dedicated himself wholeheartedly to causes he believed in.

“I’ve been very concerned about natural resource development and the state of Alaska, ever since I’ve been up here,” he said.

He came to Alaska in 1953.

Throughout the years, he worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and served in the U.S. Army. He held the position of commander for the Fairbanks National Guard unit until 1963.

He always loved talking with old-timers and embraced that old-time Alaska lifestyle. Like many Alaskans, he got into dogs.

He helped train dogs at Mt. McKinley National Park. He used dogs for hunting in the Alaska Range and for hauling wood.

“I had an appreciation for old-timers and dog power was the thing, back in the early days,” he said.

All his dogs were AKC registered malamutes. So he also showed his dogs in dog shows.

He worked in banking and resource development and is often consulted for his historical perspective and experience.

“You might say I’ve done quite a few things,” he said.

Burggraf may be best known for his involvement in mining. He once owned the Grant Mine on Ester Dome and also did placer mining just outside of Wiseman, near Coldfoot.

Golden Days even created an event in his honor: “No Finer Miner.”

He’s well known for sharing his mining artifacts and nuggets of gold at events like the Tanana Valley Fair.

“He personally taught me to respect the mining industry and often gave me ‘examples’ to hold, of large nuggets or beautiful fragile nuggets, which he often carried in his pocket,” Rhonda Boyles said. “Roger has forgotten more than many people will ever know about the geology of the state of Alaska and the mining industry.”

“I always believed in what I was doing,” Burggraf said. “When I was in areas I felt needed support, I tried to do that.”

“Of course, the mining industry is under quite a bit of assault by the environmental community,” he said.

Colleagues may be surprised to learn that, in college, Burggraf was a member of the Sierra Club. He believes that helped him understand the environmental perspective.

“They’ve carried things to the extreme,” he said. “I really couldn’t support it anymore. But I understand where those communities are coming from.

“I realized in order to have a viable economy, you have to have jobs. Alaska, being a resource-rich state, has resources that can provide the jobs.

“There are a lot of people out there that just don’t want any development,” he said. “They want to keep everything just the way it is.”

That makes life difficult for small miners, he said.

“They’ve disrupted and bankrupted numerous small miners,” Burggraf said. “I’ve never seen things happen the way they have this last year.”

Burggraf strongly believes in Fairbanks. He even has ventured into the tourism industry, as a partner in the Tanana Chief riverboat.

The letters touting his achievements and passion are touching.

“While we rapidly lose members of the Greatest Generation to the inevitable ravages of time, Roger Burggraf’s candle still burns hot and bright, a beacon to young generations in need of his wisdom and sense of history,” wrote Curtis J. Freeman, president of Avalon Development Corp.

“He carries pieces of gold in his pockets, but none is as big as his heart,” wrote Lorna Shaw, of Pogo Mine. “He works harder than anyone else I know. There truly is no finer miner — and no finer Alaskan — than Roger Burggraf.”

U.S. Rep. Don Young wrote: “I sincerely, believe if William Egan were choosing a person that aligned with his own philosophy and spirit, he would not hesitate to choose Roger Berggraf.”

Burggraf’s supporters did a good job of keeping the award a secret. That wasn’t easy, considering Burggraf works closely with the Alaska Chamber of Commerce.

He traveled to the Anchorage meeting to help with the special banquet, unaware he was the star of the evening.

“I got there and of course, I asked for a program and they sorta hemmed and hawed about it,” he said.

He didn’t pay much attention.

At the banquet, when it came time for the Alaskan of the Year award, the speaker started describing the winner. It sounded familiar and Burggraf thought, “Gosh, I wonder who else was with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service?”

“They went on, and I still didn’t quite catch on,” he said. “Then, they finally said, ‘he’s been involved in mining,’ and I said, ‘Oh my God.”

“I had no clue,” he laughed. “And they were quite proud of the fact they pulled the wool over my eyes.”

At age 82, Burggraf has no intention of slowing down.

“I’ve enjoyed life,” he said. “I still do.”

“I’ll probably work until the day I die,” he said. “If I can be productive and useful, that’s what counts.”

Contact community editor and columnist Kris Capps at kcapps@newsminer.com, in the office at 459-7546 or by cell at 322-6334. Follow her on Twitter: @FDNMKris.