Don Young

Here is a detailed, SEO-optimized biography of Don Young (Donald Edwin “Don” Young) — his life, political career, personality, and notable quotes:

Don Young – Life, Career, and Noteworthy Quotes

Explore the life and political career of Don Young (1933–2022) — long-serving U.S. Representative from Alaska. Learn his milestones, controversies, ideology, and memorable quotes. Keywords: “Don Young biography”, “Don Young quotes”, “Don Young Alaska representative”, “life and career of Don Young”.

Introduction

Donald Edwin “Don” Young (June 9, 1933 – March 18, 2022) was an American politician who represented the state of Alaska in the U.S. House of Representatives for nearly five decades.

He holds the distinction of being Alaska’s longest-serving representative, a senior figure in Congress, and in his later years he became the Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives (the longest continuously serving member) from December 2017 until his death.

Known for his rugged style, outspoken views, and strong advocacy for Alaska’s infrastructure, natural resources, and local interests, Young remained a controversial but influential figure in American politics.

Early Life, Education & Alaska Move

Don Young was born on June 9, 1933 in Meridian, California, Sutter County. Yuba College (1952) and later a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Chico (1958).

He served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957.

In Alaska, he worked a diverse set of jobs: construction, fishing, trapping, operating barge operations and tugboats, and teaching fifth grade in remote locales during winters. His hands-on experience in Alaska’s rural and frontier settings shaped much of his political persona.

Entry into Politics: Local and State Office

Young’s political career began in Fort Yukon, where he served as mayor in 1964. Alaska House of Representatives (serving 1967–1971) and then to the Alaska State Senate (1971–1973).

These state-level roles provided him experience in legislative process, local issues, and building political networks in Alaska.

Congressional Career (1973–2022)

Election to U.S. House & Tenure

In 1972, Young ran for Alaska’s at-large House seat against incumbent Nick Begich. At the time, Begich was presumed dead after disappearing in a plane crash shortly before the election. Both he and Young contested the seat. Eventually, a special election was held in 1973, which Young won.

He was re-elected in successive terms, serving continuously from March 6, 1973 to March 18, 2022.

He chaired significant committees, including:

• House Resources Committee (later called House Natural Resources), from 1995 to 2001.

• House Transportation Committee (later Transportation & Infrastructure) from 2001 to 2007.

His committee leadership allowed him to influence federal investments and policies beneficial to Alaska — especially in infrastructure, transportation, land use, and natural resources.

In December 2017, after John Conyers’s resignation, Young became the 45th Dean of the House, the most senior member, and the first Republican to hold that title in over 84 years.

Policy Focus & Achievements

Some of Young’s policy priorities and key actions included:

• Advocacy for Alaska’s infrastructure: securing funds for roads, ports, bridges, and Arctic development.

• Natural resources & land use: He was often forceful in supporting resource extraction, opposing strict environmental regulation that he considered threatening Alaska’s economy and way of life.

• Transportation and connectivity: As chair of Transportation, he influenced federal transportation policy impacting remote regions.

• Energy & Arctic development: He supported exploring and developing Arctic oil and gas resources, often clashing with environmentalists on climate policy.

• Local interests: Young often emphasized the unique needs of Alaska’s remote, rural, and indigenous communities, and prided himself on bringing “pork” (earmarks, projects) to the state.

However, his career was not without controversy:

• He faced ethics scrutiny over undisclosed gifts from outside groups over many years, which led to a House Ethics Committee rebuke.

• He was criticized for his use of crude language, outspoken statements, and occasional gaffes or slurs that drew public backlash.

• One notable bill he supported that drew criticism was the proposal and earmarking for the Gravina Island Bridge (“Bridge to Nowhere”) in Alaska, which became a symbol of excessive federal spending and waste.

Later Years & Death

Don Young continued serving in Congress into his late 80s. In March 2022, while traveling from Los Angeles to Seattle, he lost consciousness and died after landing.

He lay in state in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall on March 29, 2022.

In 2023, Alaska officially recognized Don Young Day on June 9 (his birthday) to honor his service.

Personality, Reputation & Legacy

Don Young cultivated an image of a rugged, no-nonsense “frontiersman” — someone who understood Alaska’s challenges intimately. His blunt style, occasional profanity, and willingness to confront opponents made him a polarizing figure: admired by many in Alaska for his tenacity and hated by critics for his combative approach and controversial remarks.

His long tenure, seniority, and committee control brought considerable clout to Alaska — he was sometimes dubbed “Alaska’s third senator” because of his influence despite being just one House member.

However, modern assessments of Young balance his benefits to his state with criticisms about ethics, environmental stances, and occasional offensiveness.

Notable Quotes

Here are some representative quotes attributed to Don Young (these reflect his beliefs, rhetoric, and style):

• “If you can’t eat it, can’t sleep under it, can’t wear it or make something from it, it’s not worth anything.”

• “Environmentalists are a socialist group of individuals that are the tool of the Democrat Party. I’m proud to say that they are my enemy. They are not Americans, never have been Americans, never will be Americans.”

• “If I have my way, I'm going to dissolve the Forest Service. They're in the business of harvesting trees and they're not harvesting trees, so why have them anymore?”

• “You cannot solve the economy in this country by creating government jobs.”

• “Remember in 1973 the same science chatter said that the coming Ice Age is going to occur … And the politicians knew how to solve it … they were going to put coal dust on the Arctic.”

These quotes provide a window into his ideological orientation — strongly skeptical of regulation and federal oversight, and committed to resource development, especially in Alaska.

Lessons and Reflections

1. Longevity can yield power
   Don Young’s nearly 50 years in Congress underline how institutional memory and seniority can translate into influence — especially for a small state like Alaska.

2. Representation of frontier/remote areas
   His career shows how members from remote or sparsely populated states must fight for visibility, infrastructure, and relevance in Washington.

3. Balancing advocacy and oversight
   While bringing federal dollars to his state, Young’s opposition to environmental regulation and his occasional ethical criticisms highlight the tension between advocacy and accountability.

4. Personality matters
   Young’s blunt speech, bold imagery (he once brandished a walrus penis bone in the House floor debate), and willingness to provoke made him famous but also vulnerable to backlash.

5. Legacy is mixed
   Like many long-serving public servants, Young’s legacy will be viewed through multiple lenses — as a champion of Alaska’s interests and as a figure with controversies, contradictions, and strong stances that sometimes alienated.

Conclusion

Don Young was a defining figure in Alaskan and U.S. politics. His long service, fierce advocacy for his state, and bold style made him a fixture in Congress. Though his career was not free from controversy, his influence — particularly on infrastructure, natural resources, and Alaska’s federal representation — was substantial.