From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Walter J. "Wally" Hickel (born August 18, 1919) was Governor of Alaska from 1966-1969 and 1990-1994. He was the United States Secretary of the Interior from 1969-1970 under President Richard Nixon, causing him to leave his first term as governor early.
During his first term as governor Hickel was elected as a member of the U.S. Republican Party. By 1990, however, he had come to sympathize with the Alaskan Independence Party, and he was elected that year as an independent, defeating Democrat Tony Knowles. However, he rejoined the Republican party in April 1994.
Hickel is also a real estate developer and chairman of Hickel Investment Company.
