Former Lt. Gov. Lowell Thomas Jr. dies just shy of 93

Lowell Thomas Jr., a former Alaska lieutenant governor, author, adventurer, glacier pilot and son of the legendary broadcaster, has died.

Listen Now

Lowell Thomas Jr. in 1975 (Photo courtesy of the Alaska Department of Education)
Lowell Thomas Jr. in 1975 (Photo courtesy of the Alaska Department of Education)

His daughter, Anne Donaghy, confirmed his death Monday to The Associated Press. She says her father died Saturday at his home in Anchorage, Alaska, days shy of his 93rd birthday.

He was born in London on Oct. 6, 1923, to Lowell Jackson Thomas and Frances Ryan Thomas. His early childhood was spent in New York City, where his father had a nightly radio broadcast.

He was a flight instructor during World War II, and flying and skiing became lifelong passions. He and his wife flew across the world and chronicled their work in articles and a book.

They visited Alaska in 1958, and fell in love with it, moving there two years later.

Thomas was a state legislator and later lieutenant governor, a post he held from 1974 to 1978.

The family plans a memorial later in Anchorage.

Previous articleWisdom Keeper: One Man’s Journey to Honor the Untold History of the Unangan People
Next articleAlaska News Nightly: Monday, Oct. 03, 2016