2003
UAS NEWS RELEASE ARCHIVES
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April
21, 2003 On May 4, 2003 at Centennial Hall H.A. “Red” Boucher will receive an Honorary Doctor of Letter Degree from the University of Alaska Southeast as a Distinguished Scholar and Public Servant to the State of Alaska. Red will also deliver the Commencement Address in which he hopes to convey to the graduating class his belief that creating opportunity for others is the key to a successful life. “Every time I’ve created an opportunity for someone else, the blessing of prosperity has rained down upon me,” said Boucher. H.A. “Red” Boucher was born on January 27, 1921 in Nashua, New Hampshire just across the Massachusetts border and a few miles from Lowell the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Perhaps it is appropriate that Red helped to usher in the Information Revolution to the 49th state and continues to be on the forefront of its technological development as Alaska’s Digital Pioneer. Red is a decorated 20-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, who considers the two most important years of his life to be those spent in the Pacific theatre on the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise during WWII. The USS Enterprise is the most decorated ship in naval history and was involved in such key battles as Midway and Guadalcanal. “We were in every major battle in the Pacific theatre… But, we missed being a Peal Harbor by about two days,” said Boucher. The Navy is where Red was introduced to radio broadcasting and computer communication technology. He comes from a military background. His father died of complications that stemmed from a mustard gas attack during WWI, while he was stringing communication wire near Verdun France, and his mother was one of the first women Chief Petty Officers in the Navy during WWI. When Boucher rose to the rank of Chief Petty Officer, Admiral William F. “Bull” Halsey placed the pin worn by Red’s mother on his cap saying, “I doubt like hell if many sailors in this man’s Navy can say their mother was a Chief.” Following his retirement from the Navy Boucher came to Alaska as a sporting goods representative and founded the Alaska Goldpanner college level baseball program. Over 170 men that played under Boucher went on to play Major League Baseball, including Hall of Fame member Tom Seaver. On September 20, 2002 the Baseball Hall of Fame recognized Boucher’s contribution to America’s Pastime during Alaska Day. Boucher pointed out the over 400 MLB players have played in the Goldpanner League. Fairbanks was named an All American City, under Boucher’s leadership as Mayor, for its handling of the 100-year flood that inundated the city in 1967. As Lieutenant Governor under William Egan, Boucher led the media effort to build national support for the Trans-Alaska pipeline and spearheaded the development of a statewide telecommunications system that brought telephone and television to remote Alaska. In the past few years Red’s legend as Alaska’s Digital Pioneer has been well documented in publications such as the Washington Post and Wired Magazine. On Red’s 79th birthday he was awarded the Alaska Distinguished Service Medal by Governor Tony Knowles, “For exceptional meritorious service in a succession of key positions, all of which have had a significant and lasting impact upon the citizens of the State of Alaska.” He was also awarded the President’s Y2K Distinguished Service Medal for his work with Alaska Natives to prepare for the millennium rollover. Red is currently the President of Alaska Wireless Inc., Producer of Alaska On-Line and consultants for COMPAQ/HP, Alaska Communications Systems and serves as an advisor to the Alaska State House of Representatives IT Committee. He currently resides in Anchorage with his wife Vicky Elkins Boucher and their daughter Lara. -30-
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