George A. Lingo

Who was George A. Lingo?

George Archibald Lingo, was a Democratic politician from the U.S. territory of Alaska, commemorated as "a pioneer Alaskan in the true sense of the word."

A native of Anaconda, Montana, Lingo came to Alaska in 1918 with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Archie Lingo. He finished high school in Seattle at Lincoln High, then entered the University of Washington. After a short UW student career, in 1923 he enrolled in the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines. He received a degree in mining engineering in 1927.

After graduation, he worked with the Mount McKinley Tourist and Transportation Company and was active in the Mount McKinley Tourist Organization, putting the mountain on the map as a tourist attraction as early as the late 1920s. In 1932 he was elected to the Alaska Territorial Legislature from Fairbanks as a representative of the 4th district; he was 31 at the time, the youngest man ever elected to the House and the first AAC&SM graduate to hold public office. He served two terms in the Alaska Territorial House of Representatives.

In 1934, he was appointed to the AAC&SM Board of Trustees.