(4:00 min.) (20 of 24) 20 Purchasing agent
Nicky Jones was the purchasing agent, but he got too sick to do the job. They hired a replacement from Boeing. Buying for an airplane company was very different from buying for a ship. He quickly...
(4:02 min) (02 of 17) First job Bill Shoddy & George Gilbertson. Roomed at Francis Doyle's boarding house now National Bank of Alaska, in the Northward Building-$68 a month. Went to look at the University, if he enrolled at University room...
(4:03 min) (03 of 19) Young adult #2 Traveled north. Shucked corn and by the end he was averaging 95 bushels a day. Went back home and got a job with his brother-in-law on a dairy farm. Took a class to become a railroad fireman. Train...
(4:11 min) (20 of 27) Haul Road -- Cook & conditions
Cook volunteered to go along when he heard about project. He handed out cookies to the kids, helped in building community relations. Construction was moving slow; there were just not...
(4:15 min.) (06 of 28) 6. WWII Some of his friends went to Canada to fly with the Royal Air Force [RAF]; many of them did not come home. George went to Africa to build runways and supply aircraft. He was with Pan Am/World Airways (Pan Am...
(4:18 min.) (14 of 28) 14. Pacific Alaska Airways
Joe Barrows set up this airline; he wanted Pan Am to take it over for him. He wanted to fly clipper flying boats. His wife stayed in Alaska and was the first woman (Mary Barrows) to get...
(4:26 min) (05 of 19) Illinois Central Railroad Met a man working for the Illinois Central Railroad. Next job was painting for the Illinois Central Railroad. While he was there he put in for the steel gang building and repairing railroad...
(4:27 min.) (07 of 09) 7. Most wanted statehood A majority in Fairbanks and Anchorage wanted statehood. Southeast was the only part of the state with reservations. One delegate resigned just prior to ratification because he objected to a...
(4:32 min.) (07 of 24) 07 Steward section
Sometimes so short of help he was able to get 16 hours and more overtime. During the off season, did painting and carpentry for the company.
(4:35 min.) (20 of 24) 19 Labor negotiations
The steamship companies retained lawyers to negotiate. Alaska Steamship Co. had Bogo, Bogo and Gates to represent them. Some of the smaller companies would represent themselves. John had a good...
(4:38 min) (06 of 17) Flying history, quit commercial flying 1960 quit flying so he could spend summers furthering education. Sam White gave advice, Harold Gilliam, Wien's, the real bush pilots or first wave of air pioneers. More...
(4:39 min.) (02 of 28) 2. Early years -- parental influences Father flew in World War I [WWI] and after war, he bought Navy surplus flying boat and flew on the weekends. His mother also got interested in aviation and they flew weekend tours...
(4:45 min.) (22 of 24) 22 Matanuska Colony project
Assisted in shipping the Matanuska Colony. Some stuck it out; others only lasted a few weeks. The company shipped everything: buildings, concrete, and people. Sewick worked for the Alaska...
(4:46 min.) (11 of 28) 11. Back to the U.S.
Military wanted them to stay and offered George a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. He wanted to get back home for at least a visit, so he flew back with a cargo of latex rubber. Engine problems...
(4:48 min.) (09 of 24) 09 Food and health on-board the ship Beef served frequently and caused complaints. Sometimes it was the waiter's fault, sometimes it was the traveler's fault, and sometimes it was the sea. The nurse had to help lots...
(4:49 min.) (02 of 09) 2. Important issues. Les was interested in statehood and getting a fair share for Alaska; he was less interested in specific issues. Proponents of statehood wanted to get out from control of the Department of the...
(4:57 min.) (05 of 28) 5. Parents flying His father got out of the weekend flying business and flying for the Naval Reserve. He died in a flight during the 1930's. His mother could fly but wasn't licensed. George took awhile to get back...
(5:01 min.) (22 of 28) 22. Flying in western Alaska
George still needed his multi-engine rating, couldn't borrow the company plane. So he quit Pan Am and started flying along the Kuskokwim for Northern Consolidated. Towns in the western...
(5:05 min) (04 of 19) Education in Chicago Got a request from the Chicago & Altman Railroad to try-out for a fireman job. He was engaged to be married and decided not to work on the railroad. Went to Chicago to take the Ray Automobile...
(5:17 min.) (21 of 28) 21. Licenses and ratings
Discussion of the difficulties getting commercial license; the easiest way is to become an instructor. George got his license, then his instructor rating; the instrument rating was more...