Newcomb is being honored for civic involvement in the Mat-Su area that goes back to the 1950s, said Bert Hall, a Valley resident and member of the Alaskan of the Year board of directors.
"For 50 years he has been our number one booster," Hall said. "If it was good for the area, Harold Newcomb was probably involved."
 Harold Newcomb came to Alaska in 1948 with the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Richardson. He moved to the Wasilla area in 1952. Newcomb will receive the Denali Award. Frontiersman file photo |
Over the years, Newcomb owned and operated a hardware store in a Wasilla and the Hallea Lodge on Lake Lucille. In the 1970s he became a real estate agent and currently works as a real estate broker. Newcomb was even once a publisher, when he founded a newspaper called the Valley Press. The Press ran from 1984 to 1985.
Newcomb is being honored for his public contributions. He participated in the steering committee for the Mat-Su Borough's incorporation in 1964 and 10 years later on a committee that helped create Wasilla's city government. In elected offices, he has served as Wasilla's mayor and chairman of the borough's assembly before that body had a mayoral office. Newcomb has also worked on various civic organizations including Rotary Club and United Way. Newcomb said he first became involved in the community through a parent-teacher association.
"I became a member of the PTA and [was] elected ways and means chairman," Newcomb said. "At the time, I wondered what a ways and means chairman was supposed to do and I soon found out."
Newcomb started networking to seek solutions for issues confronting the PTA and went on to become involved in almost every aspect of community growth in the Valley.
"I feel rather fortunate to have been able to participate in the formation of a state and a borough and a city," Newcomb said. "That's pretty unusual. a lot of people don't get to do that."
Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin said Newcomb has been an inspiration who set an example of public service and has in the past reminded her to keep family first, no matter how busy she gets. Palin recalled seeing the Newcomb family at Wasilla Lake Park mowing grass and maintaining the park when Wasilla had no parks department.
"When I was on the city council I got to help name that park after him," Palin said, "I consider that an accomplishment."
Palin said Newcomb has a reputation for answering the call when asked to volunteer.
"I think people know that when you want to get something done you can call Harold Newcomb," Palin said. "He is a cornerstone of this community and much has been built around the Newcomb family to make this a great little city."
Stacy Stigar, a former executive director of the local United Way, said Newcomb is always ready to serve, no matter what the project.
"He's also the kind of friend who would do anything for you," Stigar said adding that when called upon, Newcomb's usual response is "When do you need me?"
The Alaskan of the Year banquet was founded in 1967 by Henry Hedberg Sr. of Anchorage in order to honor Anchorage Daily Times publisher Robert B. Atwood for his efforts in the statehood movement and to raise scholarships for Alaskan students.
Alaskan of the Year is an independent organization. This year the committee will honor 11 Alaskans in four different award categories and present six scholarships of $1,500 each. Scholarship winners will be announced at the banquet.
The general public is invited to nominate Alaskans to the committee based on their contributions to the state. Nominees are then forwarded to a state-wide electorate composed of about 60 people who select the honorees each year. The awards banquet will be held at 6:30 p.m. March 23 at Sheraton Anchorage hotel in Anchorage. For information on Alaskan of the Year or tickets, call Patty Davidson at (907) 266-7230 or fax to (907) 266-7229.
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