Founder of ISER dies at age 93

As the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER) approaches its 50-year anniversary, UAA received the sad news that ISER's founder, George Rogers, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 3.

In 1961, George successfully convinced the Alaska Legislature and then Governor William Egan to approve a bill to create a research institute at the University of Alaska; today, ISER is Alaska's oldest public policy research organization.



George Rogers is remembered fondly by his friends and former colleagues at UAA. A short piece about his life from the Associated Press is included below:



George Rogers, Alaska founding giant, dies at 93

by Rachel D'Oro / The Associated Press


George Rogers, an unassuming giant among Alaska's founding fathers, has died at 93.



His daughter, Sidney Fadaoff, said he died at his Juneau home on Sunday.

Rogers was considered an economic architect who helped form the territory into the nation's 49th state.



He was a technical consultant to the Alaska Constitutional Convention that convened in the 1950s before statehood.

Among his other accomplishments, Rogers served as economic adviser to two territorial governors, developing a revenue system for the territory. After statehood, he persuaded lawmakers to pass a bill creating the University of Alaska Anchorage's Institute of Social and Economic Research.



Fadaoff says the family is planning a private service in Juneau. A public celebration of his life is tentatively set for mid-April.