04/12/2011 01:00 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION

             HB 214-WALTER L. KUBLEY FERRY TERMINAL                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:04:20 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KOOKESH announced the consideration of HB 214 naming the                                                                  
Ketchikan ferry terminal                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:04:50 PM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE KYLE JOHANSEN, sponsor of HB 214, spoke to the                                                                   
following sponsor statement:                                                                                                    
     Walter  was integral  in writing  the legislation  that                                                                    
     created  the  Alaska  Marine  Highway  System.  As  the                                                                    
     'Father  of the  Alaska  Highway System,'  he had  fond                                                                    
     memories of  bringing his family  on the  maiden voyage                                                                    
     of the M/V Malaspina. The  ferry sailed from Seattle to                                                                    
     Ketchikan in  1963 with  Walter's cousin,  Capt. Harold                                                                    
     Paine,   at  the   helm  and   Governor  Egan   in  the                                                                    
     wheelhouse.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Walter dove  into politics by serving  on the Ketchikan                                                                    
     City Council  from 1957  to 1960.  He would  be elected                                                                    
     twice to  the Alaska House of  Representatives, serving                                                                    
     in the  second and third Alaska  Legislatures from 1961                                                                    
     through 1964.  While in the legislature,  Walter became                                                                    
     known  for his  ability  to deal  with  people on  both                                                                    
     sides on the  political aisle in a  fair and bipartisan                                                                    
     manner.  He often  said 6  of his  greatest years  were                                                                    
     spent  lobbying with  his  son,  Donnie. Together  they                                                                    
     fought for the same  communities and issues that Walter                                                                    
     had championed his entire life.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     Kubley's career endeavors made  him a trusted confidant                                                                    
     to U.S. Senators,  Representatives, Governors and State                                                                    
     Legislators.  His friendship  to the  late Senator  Ted                                                                    
     Stevens   was   one    of   Walter's   most   cherished                                                                    
     relationships  and he  was an  honorable pallbearer  at                                                                    
     the Senator's funeral services.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     Even  in  retirement,  Walter remained  active  in  The                                                                    
     Elks,  Royal Order  of the  Moose, Veterans  of Foreign                                                                    
     Wars and  The American  Legion. He  is remembered  as a                                                                    
     visionary,  a great  leader  in the  state  and a  dear                                                                    
     friend to many.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:07:13 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR EGAN said he remembers the maiden voyage of the M/V                                                                     
Malaspina from Seattle to Alaska and he believes it's an honor                                                                  
to name the Ketchikan terminal after Wally Kubley.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  JOHANSEN said  the  House passed  an in  memoriam                                                               
citation  that will  be  presented  to the  family.  A photo  and                                                               
citation  that references  then Governor  Egan riding  up in  the                                                               
wheelhouse with Mr.  Kubley will also be placed  inside the ferry                                                               
terminal. This  will welcome people  coming to Alaska  and invite                                                               
them to enjoy the state as Wally enjoyed it.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KOOKESH closed public testimony and asked for a motion                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senators Menard and Thomas joined the committee.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:09:01 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  EGAN  moved  to  report   HB  214  from  committee  with                                                               
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KOOKESH announced  that without objection, HB  214 AM moved                                                               
from the Senate Transportation Standing Committee.