Legislature(2009 - 2010)BUTROVICH 205
03/01/2010 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SJR27 | |
| SB274 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 274 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SJR 27 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 274-WILLIAM JACK HERNANDEZ FISH HATCHERY
3:43:23 PM
CO-CHAIR BILL WIELECHOWSKI announced SB 274 to be up for
consideration.
3:43:36 PM
SENATOR FRED DYSON, sponsor of SB 274, thanked the chair for
hearing this bill. He explained that a very effective fish
hatchery on Elmendorf Air Force Base is being reconstructed.
Folks who are very familiar with the existing hatchery and its
history have asked that new hatchery be named after William Jack
Hernandez. He was an extraordinary person who served as a
civilian contractor on Wake Island building fortifications for
the Marine Corps when the Japanese attacked. They had a 16-day
fight in which he participated and then was taken prisoner for
three-plus years; he escaped once and was recaptured. He came
back and enlisted in the U.S. Army and transferred to Fort
Richardson in 1956 as an NCO (non-commissioned officer) and was
assigned to be the fish and wildlife conservation NCO; his job
was to rehabilitate the lakes and streams on the Post.
In 1957 the Secretary of Army approved a cooperative agreement
with the Territorial Fish and Game Department. Waste heat was
used from the power plant and the operation was very successful
for a long time. He said that Mr. Hernandez retired from the
Army and was given a commendation. He then went to work for the
Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) and returned to Fort
Richardson to manage the hatchery.
SENATOR DYSON said the History Channel ran a special called
"Wake Island: the Alamo of the Pacific" and a book has been
written that largely centered on his life and Wake Island. The
effort to get his name attached to the hatchery has largely come
from people who had worked with him and after him and seen what
he accomplished.
3:47:10 PM
SENATOR DYSON said the existing hatchery is being disassembled
and people might be confused by thinking that is the one being
named for him, but an amendment clarifies in the title that the
new one is being named after Mr. Hernandez.
CO-CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI offered Amendment 1 labeled 26-LS1449\A.2.
26-LS1449\A.2
Kane
AMENDMENT 1
OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR DYSON
Page 1, line 1, following the first occurrence of
"the":
Insert "new"
Page 1, line 5, following "Sec. 35.40.225.":
Insert "William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish
Hatchery."
Page 1, line 5:
Delete "located"
Insert "under construction"
Page 1, line 6, following "Anchorage":
Insert "scheduled to be completed in May 2011"
There were no objections and Amendment 1 was adopted. He opened
public testimony.
3:48:22 PM
IRVIN BROCK, representing himself, said he worked with Mr.
Hernandez for several years at the beginning of his career with
the department. He said, "I can see no one more deserving of
having that facility named after him. He was the first fish
culturist hired by the State of Alaska to manage the Fort
Richardson Hatchery." He was a friend and mentor to many future
state hatchery employees. He was also the "consummate gentleman"
and called everyone "Sir" no matter what their age or
experience. "It would be a great thing to put his name on part
of what he started."
3:50:14 PM
TOM NAMTVEDT, representing himself, Wasilla, said he is a
retired fisheries biologist and is a commercial fisherman. He
thanked Senator Dyson for sponsoring this bill. He added that
Mr. Hernandez, an E6, referred to him, an E4, as "kind Sir." Mr.
Namtvedt said, "Bill took every death of a fish personally."
When Mr. Hernandez retired in 1968 he took over his duties and
quickly learned that he left huge accomplishments. He said that
Mr. Hernandez died of cancer in 2003 and he lived at Lake
Susitna and fished commercially in Bristol Bay.
3:53:51 PM
GARY WALL, representing himself, Anchorage, said he lived in the
Sand Lake area and supported naming the new fish hatchery after
Mr. Hernandez. Mr. Wall said he arrived in 1973 and was assigned
to the fish hatchery and Bill took him under his wing and helped
him out in every way. He worked with Bill through his entire
career. He was a great guy and a real gentleman who knew his
fish and was dedicated to the hatchery programs.
3:54:45 PM
MICHAEL FALLON, representing himself, said he is a retired ADF&G
fish culturist and assistance manager at Fort Richardson. He
stated, "It was quite an honor to work with Bill at the
beginning of my career as Irv did. I can't think of anybody who
has come through the fish culture program that has made a
difference like Bill has for all of us." He was well respected
by everybody in the fish culture program as well as the
biologists.
MR. FALLON said another person, Jesse Wilson, was also suitable
for a recommendation. He operated the power plant and worked
closely with Bill.
3:57:02 PM
FRED WILLIAMS, representing himself, Copper Center, said he is a
retired fisheries biologist, and supported naming the new
hatchery after Mr. Hernandez saying he was the most dedicated
fisheries biologist he had ever met. He read every publication
he could get his hands on.
3:58:35 PM
CO-CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI closed public testimony and held SB 274.
There being no further business to come before the committee, he
adjourned the meeting at 3:58 p.m.
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