The Alaska Miner Fall 2024 50 In Memoriam, 2024 Alaska and our association lost several people in the past year, who contributed in a variety of ways to both Alaska mining and our state. We honor and remember them on these pages. Thomas "Tom" Anderson Thomas T. "Tom" Anderson passed away on Feb. 10, 2024, at his home in Meadow Lakes near Wasilla, Alaska, surrounded by family. He had been fighting melanoma cancer for a year. Tom was born in Anchorage, Alaska, on Aug. 4, 1967, and graduated from Bartlett High School in 1985. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in public administration at the University of Alaska Anchorage. He obtained his Juris Doctorate from Hamline School of Law in Minnesota. Tom served as a legislative aide to Representative Terry Martin for six years, and later served two terms as a State Representative for east Anchorage. Tom was committed to improving justice for Alaskans. As one of the few Juris Doctorates serving in the house, he focused most of his effort on needle-moving initiatives that would help solve more crimes against Alaskans. Tom spearheaded the legislative effort to build a new crime laboratory, touring lawmakers around the old lab overflowing with evidence boxes. He helped craft laws to fight online predation of minors, when these crimes were just coming to the forefront, and most importantly, secured the passage of invaluable legislation to allow the collection of DNA from convicted criminals and placement of the samples into CODUS. Tom was active in the Anchorage political scene, serving on the Anchorage School Board, the Zoning Board of Examiners and Appeals, the Municipal Light and Power Commission and the Anchorage Parking Authority. In 2000, he was on the transition team for Anchorage Mayor George Wurerch. Tom became managing partner with his father forming Optima Public Relations, focusing on political campaigns and helping companies develop their image and business. He represented campaigns all over Alaska and several in the Lower 48. He not only acted as a political consultant but wrote articles for The Hill, Alaska Business Monthly and other publications. Tom hosted a talk radio show on KVNT in Anchorage/Mat-Su since 2011. He regularly interviewed prominent local officials and many nationally-known political figures. He also used the Tom Anderson Show as a forum for his public relations clients. Tom was known for his good sense of humor and quick wit. He usually had a joke or remark that livened up any conversation. He was an early supporter of the Fraternal Order of Alaska State Troopers and the Alaska Police and Fire Chaplains organization. He liked to travel internationally, as well as domestically. He is survived by his wife, Lailanie; sons, Thomas and Kerry of Austin, Texas, and Timothy and wife Maddy; grandchildren Sawyer and Tristan from Atlanta, Ga.; son, Grayson McGuire Anderson, a senior at Kent a private school in Denver, Colo.; and father, Thomas R. Anderson. Preceding him in death was his mother, Christiane; and brother, James. Contributions in Tom's honor can be made to the Alaska Police and Fire Chaplains Association, P.O. Box 200654, Anchorage, AK 99520. Michael Barton Michael Andrew Barton passed away in the early morning hours of November 21, 2023 at the age of 84 after a brief but determined battle with stomach cancer. Mike was born in Lincoln, Nebraska to Byron and Evie Barton, the oldest of two sons. He grew up in Charleston, Illinois and graduated from Charleston High School. He attended the University of Michigan, obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry and, after a hiatus to serve in the US Army, a master's degree in Forest Hydrology. While in graduate school, he met his life love and partner, Sharon Louise Daniels. They were married in November, 1964 in her hometown of Pontiac, Michigan. Their first family home was a log cabin on the shores of Shagawa Lake in Ely, Minnesota. Mike and Sharon's two children, Valerie and Craig were both born in Ely. When Mike's work took them away from Ely, they kept the cabin, and continued to enjoy many summers there. Sharon would pack up the kids the day after school got out and plan the return to maximize days at the lake. Mike came when he could and stayed as long as possible. The cabin remains a treasured place for summer family get togethers. Mike had a long, impactful career with the United State Forest Service, beginning in 1959 as a research technician. His work took the family from Minnesota, to Michigan, back to Minnesota, to Wisconsin, back to Michigan, to Washington DC, and ultimately Alaska in 1979. The stay in Alaska was supposed to be a short one like the rest, but Mike was proud to still call Juneau home 44 years later. Mike initially served as Deputy Regional Forester for the Alaska Region. He assumed the role of Regional Forester in 1984 and retired from the Forest Service in 1994. During his Forest Service career, Mike received many awards for natural resource management. He was the Team Leader on the National Fisheries Task Force and ac-
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