Press Release: 'Joe Redington Trail' Bill First to Pass House - Rep. Masek's Measure Honors "Father of the Iditarod"

Click image for large 5'' x 7'' picture, 96.37k

Session:
State Capitol, Room 128
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: (907) 465-2679
Fax: (907) 465-4822

Interim:
600 E. Railroad Ave., Suite 1
Wasilla, AK 99654
Phone: (907) 376-2679
Fax: (907) 373-4745

For Immediate Release: January 30, 2001

Contact: Representative Beverly Masek at (907) 465-2679

(JUNEAU) -- The House of Representatives passed its first bill of the 22nd Alaska State Legislature this week, renaming part of Knik Goose Bay Road in Wasilla as the "Joe Redington, Sr. Memorial Trail."

"As Alaska and sled dog mushing were first in Joe's life, it is fitting that this would be the first bill to pass the House at the start of this new legislative session." said Rep. Beverly Masek (R-Willow). Masek, herself a former Iditarod musher, sponsored House Bill 44 renaming the road, which passed the House unanimously Monday.

Widely hailed as "the Father of the Iditarod," Redington started the famous Anchorage to Nome sled dog race in 1973. His other accomplishments include mushing his dog team to the top of Mount McKinley in 1979; finishing in the top five in the 1988 Iditarod at the age of 71, running a dog team in President Ronald Reagan's 1984 inaugural parade, and encouraging immunization of rural Alaska children in a Commemorative Serum Relay Race to Nome in 1995.

He also encouraged countless Alaskans to take up mushing, Masek said, and is widely credited for rebuilding dog mushing into a modern sport and cementing Alaska's place in the world's popular imagination as the home of the "The Last Great Race." Redington died June 24, 1999 at age 82.

"Joe Redington, Sr. worked tirelessly to create and nurture the Iditarod, and now the race he loved inspires the imagination of people from all over the globe and continues to bring worldwide recognition to Alaska and Alaskans," Masek said. "I cannot think of a more fitting tribute to this great Alaskan than to name the road that passes by Joe's old homestead after him."

The new Joe Redington, Sr. Memorial Trail designation will apply to the first 15 miles of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough road, which passes by the Iditarod race headquarters and the homestead that served as Redington's family home, dog lot and base of operations for years.

"As a former Iditarod musher myself, I take great pride in helping honor Joe Redington, Sr. in this way," Masek said. "I was fortunate to have mushed with such a legend, and all Alaskans were fortunate to have had him with us for so long."

House Bill 44 now moves on to the Senate.

# # #

| Rep. Masek's Page |

The Official Web Site of the House and Senate Legislative Majorities
for the 22nd Alaska State Legislature
To Report Technical Problems or Contact Webmasters