50 years ago

From the Polar Star, Nov. 22, 1957
Father of Student Designed Alaskan Flag

The daughter of the creator of Alaska’s flag is attending the University of Alaska this semester as a business administration freshman.

She is Anna May Benson. Her father is John Ben (Benny) Benson, Box 586, Kodiak, Alaska.

The Territorial Legislature selected the official flag of Alaska in 1926 from 142 designs submitted by Alaskan school children. Gov. Parks originated the contest which the American Legion sponsored in cooperation with the commissioner of education.

Benson’s design was chosen for its simplicity, originality and symbolism of Alaskan attributes. The flag shows eight stars of gold forming the Big Dipper and North Star against a blue field. He was 13 years old at the time and a seventh grade pupil in a Seward school.

His original design now is in the Territorial Museum in Juneau.

Kodiak recently named a street in Benson’s honor.

25 years ago

From the Northern Sun/Polar Star, Nov. 19, 1982
Nanook win in sudden death

Avenging an 8-4 loss the previous evening, the Skating Nanooks scored a 4-3 sudden death victory over intrastate rival University of Alaska-Anchorage last Saturday night.

The men’s hockey team returns to action this weekend with games against the University of Wisconsin-Stout tonight and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Patty Ice Arena.

Eric Stokes scored for the Nanooks with 3:09 gone in the overtime period to give UAF its first victory over the Seawolves. The Nanooks defeated UAA twice last season but were forced to forfeit both victories for having used an ineligible player.

“We played extremely good, sound, fundamental hockey,” said UAF coach Ric Shafer, referring to the third period of Friday’s contest, when the Nanooks scored several goals, and Saturday’s victory, which evened the team’s record at 1-1.

Tommy Smith’s three goals for the weekend and the net play by goalies Shawn Jones and Doug Desorcie were several key individual performances Schafer noted.