He served in the Alaska House of Representatives from 1967-1970 and the Senate from 1973-1986.
A graduate of Sheldon Jackson High School, he was the valedictorian of the class of 1963, and was student body president.
He attended college at the University of Ohio, and then transferred to the University of Alaska, where he finished his bachelor’s degree in accounting. He served on the board of directors for Doyon Ltd, and was a member of the board of directors for the now-defunct MarkAir. He was also elected president of Tanana Chiefs Conference, and was the youngest chief to be elected to that honor.
A Republican, at age 21, he filed for the Alaska House of Representatives and was 22 years old when he was sworn in to represent Interior communities, including Bethel all the way to the Canadian border.
He was elected to the Alaska Senate in 1972 and remained until 1986, representing what was then known as Senate District N.
He served in the 12th Legislature alongside Senators Jay Kerttula, Vic Fischer, Richard Eliason, George H. Hohman, Jr, Tim Kelly, Arliss Sturgulewski, and Robert Ziegler, to name a few.
Later he was a lobbyist for the Yukon-Koyukuk and Lower Kuskokwim school districts and was a regent for the University of Alaska.
Sackett Hall, at the University of Alaska Bethel campus, is named for him.
Governor Dunleavy ordered that U.S. flags and Alaska state flags fly at half-staff on Monday, March 8, 2021 in honor of Sen. Sackett.
