Bill Noll

A Great American – A Dedicated Alaskan

Bill Noll, Commissioner William C. Noll by Dave Harbour

 (Please join us as we celebrate and remember the life of William C. Noll Monday, June 20, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. at the Alyeska Resort, Girdwood, Alaska. A formal church service will be held on Friday, June 24, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, 3900 Wisconsin Street, Anchorage, Alaska Reception to follow the church service at the Parish Hall.)

 Point of Personal Privilege.  We are deeply saddened this weekend to hear of the passing of our old and dear friend, Bill Noll.  Sunday, while driving down Fifth Avenue to find a parking place before attending Saturday-Sunday Market, I saw Bill at the corner of C and 5th, and waved, but he was looking in the other direction.  

This evening when I heard of his passing, I immediately remembered his saying a few months ago, "You, John Norman and I have to recreate that steak dinner in your BBQ room, Dave."  I agreed and we would have done it this summer.  Now, our reunion will be in heaven where I most prayerfully ask our Father God to invite him to an eternity of peace and joy.

And, I remembered the many times over the years, when we had been together or with friends and I Bill Noll and Billy Harbour by Dave Harbour, Juneau Skateboard Park 3-25-03had sometimes snapped a photo for him and for my son, Billy Harbour, who was occasionally with us (Photo).

Bill and I — of similar vintage and military backgrounds — first met when in 1972 I served as director of public relations for Con Murray’s firm, Murray, Kraft and Rockey (now, Bradley Advertising).  Bill was a radio station ad salesman.  We had much in common including a desire to share old stories.  I remember one weekly staff meeting wherein Con gently counseled me — indirectly — by noting to the staff that ‘certain’ members of our team needed to be careful to not spend too many billable hours with radio salesmen in the office.

I took the hint and from then on, Bill and I would meet periodically for coffee, dinner, lunch or just a walk between meetings.  Bill was active in politics and worked tirelessly as a volunteer for the Republican Party of Alaska, Alaska’s Congressional Delegation and participated in national conventions (NGP photo with Barbara Mee, Office of Senator Ted Stevens.)  He was also instrumental in convincing me to run for the Alaska State Senate in the last election.  

In the later ’70s as I went on to serve with the oil industry (Alaskan Arctic Gas Pipeline Company and Atlantic Richfield Company), Bill became employed by a Korean coal company and also served as Mayor of Seward, Alaska.

In subsequent years, Bill and I both took on consulting projects at various times, mostly in the energy realm.  Mutual friends will remember that Bill was always concerned about having sufficient energy supplies for Alaskans.  He labored on many ways of providing such security to his fellow citizens and his concepts were always compelling.

During early 2000s Bill served as Governor Frank Murkowski’s Commissioner of Economic Development at the same time I served on the Regulatory Commission of Alaska.  Whenever he had an assignment to prepare a speech regarding natural gas or gas pipeline issues, he would call and we would collaborate on the ‘talking points’.  The latest such incident occurred a few years ago when he went on behalf of the Governor to address the Inuvik Petroleum Conference.  Since I had moderated a panel two years earlier in Inuvik, NWT, we spent a lot of time discussing the State’s gasline position vis-a-vis Canadian northern interests.  We both agreed that whereas some sought ways of dividing the countries, both the Mackenzie and Alaska gasline projects were not mutually exclusive and could easily compliment each other–no matter which one started first.

Bill retired when our other dear friend, Emil Notti, took over the office with the new governor, Sarah Palin..

Bill Noll by Dave HarbourSince then, amid his consulting projects, he has been fiercely loyal in defending the state against what Governor Sean Parnell refers to as ‘federal overreaching jurisdiction’.  As an example, Bill responded to numerous calls to action from Northern Gas Pipelines to show up and testify at various hearings, including this 5-11-10 public hearing on ANWR (NGP Photo at May hearing).

I’ll miss you a lot, Bill.  I do already.  I wish you had looked up when I waved yesterday.  I wish I had stopped anyway and run you down for a cup of coffee and a warm, final conversation.

Once again, Father, I am reminded that when You have the Holy Spirit prompt us, we should pay attention.

Amen.

-dh

(More from the Alaska Dispatch)

(More from the office of Governor Sean Parnell)

June 15, 2011, Juneau, Alaska – Governor Sean Parnell today offered his condolences to the family of former Commerce Commissioner William (Bill) C. Noll. Commissioner Noll passed away on Monday. He was 72.   “Commissioner Noll will be remembered as a dedicated public servant who devoted decades of his life to Alaska,” Governor Parnell said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”  Noll served as commissioner of the Department of Commerce and Economic Development from March 2005 through January 2007. Noll also served as deputy commissioner of Economic Development and International Trade during the second Hickel administration. He served as both mayor and city councilman for the City of Seward. Noll was the founding president, and for 13 years was a board member of the Alaska SeaLife Center. He was a member of the Alaska–Korea Business Council and the Alaska District Export Council.