The Alaska Miner Winter 2024 30 John Shively, Chuck Hawley Lifetime Achievement Award Presented by Bill Jeffress The Charles C. (Chuck) Hawley Lifetime Achievement Award is named in honor of the longtime AMA member and former Executive Director Emeritus who dedicated his entire career to advancing Alaska’s mining industry. This award seeks to recognize the service contributions of a mining industry pioneer, individual, or employee who, like Chuck, devoted his professional life to ensuring a successful mining industry in Alaska. This award will honor the dedication and success Chuck exemplified during his career: devotion of time, effort, thought, and action consistently shown in his mining industry service, perseverance and ambition, and a love for educating Alaskans on mining industry endeavors. I would like to call his son Ted, another major supporter in our industry, to help me present this award, and any other members of the Hawley family. This year’s recipient came to Alaska in 1965. I can’t say what for, because it will give him away immediately. He had no idea that he would remain here for the duration and become an icon in Alaska’s resource industry. He worked as the head of Rural CAP in the early 70’s and was an executive vice president of AFN. In 1975 he was hired by NANA as a VP of Operations based in Kotzebue. He worked there for the next two decades and worked his way up to Senior Vice President and COO of NANA Development Corporation. It was during this tenure that the concept, advancement and eventual development and operation of Red Dog Mine took place. There are very few people that can claim to be part of a project from concept to reality, and he is one of those few. As we know, it resulted in a major change for the residents of the Northwest Arctic Borough, which he also played a role in forming. Also during this time, he was instrumental in the drafting of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. His time at NANA made him a firm believer in what resource development can do to benefit rural communities. He carried this belief as he began work in public service. He was Chief of Staff for Governor Sheffield and DNR Commissioner under Governor Knowles. Key accomplishments of the department while he served as Commissioner included a revamping of the State's oil and gas leasing system, re-negotiation of the North Star oil and gas leases, negotiations involving the BP-ARCO merger, reforming some of the state's mining laws and regulations, revitalization of the State's land disposal program, and assisting with the devastating Miller’s Reach Fire in the Mat-Su Valley. He also oversaw major improvements in the Department's use of 21st Century technology, which allowed the department to increase its efficiency during a time when its core workforce was reduced by about 15 percent. What he saw happen with Red Dog drove him to recreate those opportunities in southwest Alaska. It wasn’t about the money — it was about bringing opportunity to people and communities. He has fought tirelessly for those opportunities and continues to this day — even as he has crossed the magical mark of 80 years old!! His love for community spans wide. He has received many accolades over the years, including the 1992 Denali Award by AFN – the highest honor a non-Native can receive. In his forms of community service, the list is extensive: UA Board of Regents, Anchorage Symphony board, Democratic Leadership Council (hopefully teaching them about civility in working across party lines), State Chair for the Episcopal Diocese of Alaska fundraising campaign, regular bike rider for cancer research, Five-term President of RDC, Permanent Fund Corporation Board of Trustees Alaska Railroad board, and so on. Most importantly, he is a wonderful family man to his wife their daughter. This individual has always point to prioritize mentoring young leaders in the state. One of his FIVE nominators wrote, “I am one of hundreds John helped develop and he is responsible for where I am at in my career today.” AMA Executive Director Deantha Skibinski noted that she shared the same experience, and this person’s generosity with time and talent is still helping her engage in making a difference to this day. He has been a mentor and father figure to MANY of us in the industry who have done our best to follow in his footsteps. Another nominator wrote: “He loves Alaska, he loves this industry. He shows up when asked to help without hesitation. If you were to make a top ten list of Alaska mining advocates, I'd wager he makes nearly everyone's list.” And by the way, he came to Alaska in 1965 as a VISTA volunteer. I can think of no more a deserving candidate for the Chuck Hawley Lifetime Achievement Award than our own John Shively.
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