Former Alaska State Rep. Clark Gruening, whose political and civic legacy traced back to the roots of Alaska’s territorial era and statehood movement, died June 17, 2025, at the Juneau Pioneers Home. He was 82.
Gruening was born March 28, 1943, into a family deeply intertwined with Alaska’s political heritage. He was the grandson of Ernest Gruening, the former Territorial Governor and US Senator who was one of the most prominent advocates for Alaska statehood. His father, Huntington Sanders “Hunt” Gruening, was a commercial airline pilot and aviation executive who also served on the inaugural City and Borough of Juneau Assembly.
Raised in Juneau, Clark Gruening graduated from Juneau-Douglas High School in 1961. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Oregon in 1965 and a law degree from George Washington University in 1969 before returning to Alaska to practice law.
He entered public service in the 1970s and was elected to the Alaska House of Representatives in 1974, serving two terms. During his time in the Legislature, Gruening played a key role in negotiations and legislation that laid the groundwork for the establishment of the Alaska Permanent Fund, a defining feature of the state’s fiscal structure. He had a unique ability to work across the aisle with Republicans.
In 1980, Gruening made national headlines when he defeated incumbent US Sen. Mike Gravel in the Democratic primary — a reversal of history, as Gravel had unseated Gruening’s grandfather in the same race 12 years earlier. Gruening went on to lose the general election to Republican Frank Murkowski.
Although he never returned to elected office, Gruening remained active in Alaska’s legal, civic, and philanthropic life. He contributed his time and leadership to numerous organizations, including the Juneau Community Foundation, the Foraker Group, Southeast Alaska Independent Living, and Outdoor Recreation Community Access.
In recognition of his decades of service to the state and its people, the University of Alaska Southeast awarded Gruening an Honorary Doctorate of Laws in 2020.
He is survived by his wife, Rosemary; sons Nathan (Selena) and Matthew; brothers Win (Anne) and Brad (Bonnie), all of Juneau; brother Peter Gruening; and sisters Kimberley (Steve) and Tiffany, all of Washington State.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy posted a statement: “Rose and I are saddened by the passing of Clark Gruening. He came from a long legacy of public service and devoted much of his life to Alaska’s future. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and all who knew him.”
Funeral arrangements will be announced by the family at a later date. Governor Dunleavy will order flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of Clark Gruening on a date to be determined in accordance with the family’s wishes.
I was fortunate to have all of my conservative Republican friends work hard to get me elected in 1980, and defeat Clark. It helped greatly that Jimmy Carter was coming off of a very failed presidency. I was getting pulled up the ladder by the Ronald Reagan wave of success. And here we are 45 years later and my own legacy is in question because of my daughter’s own reckoning that she really is a liberal Democrat and has decided to come out of the closet and destroy my conservative legacy. The irony of politics is that you win some and lose some even if your own bloodlines becomes your political downfall.
RIP Clark.
Just think, Frankie…….if Clark had won in 1980, Alaskans today wouldn’t have the “Lisa problem.”
And neither would you.
No one has conflicted more Alaskans in the past 50 years than the Murkowski Family.
My sincere condolences to the Gruenings.
I wonder if Lisa Murkowski will attend his funeral? A real paradox in Alaska politics. The undeserving benefactor of the political race that she owes her destiny to. Clark Gruening (who would have been a GREAT US Senator, but for the Murkowskis).
I was talking with him in 2010 when the announcement of Lisa’s write-in campaign came on the TV next to us. Of course, I said the first thing to come to mind: “So, how do you feel about your party throwing its nominee under the bus like that?”. In retrospect, of course they would do that. Scott McAdams was only nominated because the ADP held its convention in Sitka that year (curious aside, the 1968 ADP convention was also in Sitka, the year also being important to the chronology of the Senate seat), he was the defacto host by virtue of being the mayor at the time, and the party is fond of running sacrificial lamb candidates in races where they have no chance in order to appear as if they’re still relevant. Anyway, back to Clark Gruening, his response to my question led me to believe that he and Lisa were quite comfortable with each other.
I was thinking the same thing. Yep!
Clark was a prince of a man and a pleasure to be with. I rode the chair and skied with him quite often for a while and conversations with him were always such a pleasure. He always had everybodys best interests at heart. He will be sorely missed by all.
I got to know Clark when I was lobbying in Juneau in the late 80’s. He was a great guy and a good guy to hit tennis balls with down at Evergreen Park. He loved Juneau and Alaska and did his community proud. RIP my friend.
Clark was a friend and one of several friends all of whom shared a “duck shack” in Trading Bay during September’s and Octobers for many years. He was a delight to spend time
with.
He was a good attorney and would have been a good Senator. In those days elected officials on both sides of the parties had Alaska interests first. He was a very reasonable man and was willing to first do what was best for Alaska.
He will be missed and remembered.
It is said that when an old man dies, a library burns to the ground. Clark was truly a library filled with the better tomes of Alaska history, tradition, and vision.
I can’t say that I always agreed with Clark, but his diplomatic pursuit of causes important to him always proved him a gentleman of honor and respect. The world is a lesser place without his presence.
May the Lord look kindly upon the repose of his soul.
Clark was a kind, benevolent man. He had a keen mind and accomplished much in his lifetime, but he was always modest about it. His sense of community and a recognition of world that was far bigger than himself was notable. He would have been a perfect Senator, but when that didn’t work out, he turned his prodigious energy into other forms of public good. RIP, Clark. You will be remembered as a man who enjoyed a life well-lived.
I was a young man when I was falsely accused of something by the police, I walked Into the first law office I came to, they set me up with Clark, he took my case investigated and we went to court, we won. The second case he defended me again and won again. Here is the good part, I didn’t have any money, he said don’t worry about it, just pay me when you can. First spare money I had I paid him. We seen each other in passing he always remembered me, he always had a sincere, caring attitude. RIP Clark!
Clark was a top shelf attorney, who knew the law and helped people, without his personal ego being involved. Lisa couldn’t pass the Bar Exam for years, and wouldn’t know how to practice law in the same traditions that Clark did. RIP, Clark.
Good post, Sean. There is usually a lot of jealousy among candidates and between each candidate. Clark was a gentleman though, not a habitual whiner like Lisa Murkowski. There’s a difference between defending your political party’s turf and defending your political royalty status. Lisa has mental problems as a result of the Murkowski name during the past 45 continuous years. Clark’s mental status never succumbed to that kind of torture and fantasy.
Great observation. Lisa is so totally confused at this point, her ability to function as a US Senator is in question. Democrats seem to gravitate to these kinds of politicians. Joe Biden……thoroughly confused. Chuck Schumer, confused and angry. Nancy Pelosi confused and evil.
No wonder the Democrats want Lisa as their own.