Representative Howard Wallace Pollock

Howard Wallace Pollock (April 11, 1920 – January 9, 2011) was an American politician, attorney, and Republican Representative from Alaska who served in the United States Congress from 1967 to 1971. Over the course of two terms in the House of Representatives, he became the first Republican elected to Congress from Alaska and participated actively in the legislative process during a significant period in American history, representing the interests of his constituents in the newly admitted state.

Pollock was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Olga (née Deblanc) and Oscar Tobias Pollock and spent much of his youth in New Orleans, Louisiana. He attended high school in Perkinston, Mississippi, and continued his education at Perkinston Junior College, from which he graduated. His early years in the South, combined with his later move to Alaska, gave him a broad familiarity with diverse regions of the United States that would later inform his public service.

In 1941, Pollock enlisted in the United States Navy as a seaman, beginning a World War II military career that lasted until 1946 and culminated in his retirement with the rank of lieutenant commander. While training in the South Pacific in 1944, he was severely injured in a grenade accident that resulted in the loss of his right forearm. Despite this life-altering injury, he completed his service and returned to civilian life with a record that reflected both personal sacrifice and leadership under difficult circumstances.

After the war, Pollock pursued higher education with a focus on law and management. He studied law at Santa Clara University School of Law in California and at the University of Houston in Texas, preparing for a career as a practicing attorney. He subsequently undertook postgraduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he earned a Master of Science degree in industrial management. This combination of legal training and advanced study in management provided him with a strong foundation for both his legal practice and his later legislative work.

Pollock’s political career began in territorial Alaska, where he became involved in public affairs during the period leading up to and following statehood. He served in the Alaska Territorial Legislature from 1953 to 1955, participating in governance while Alaska was still a territory. After statehood, he was elected to the Alaska Senate, serving from 1961 to 1963 and again from 1965 to 1966. In these roles, he helped shape the emerging state’s legislative framework and gained recognition as a prominent Republican figure in Alaska politics.

Building on his territorial and state legislative experience, Pollock was elected as a Republican to the Ninetieth and Ninety-first Congresses, serving in the U.S. House of Representatives from January 3, 1967, to January 3, 1971. His election marked the first time a Republican represented Alaska in Congress. During his two terms, he contributed to the legislative process at the federal level, participating in debates and votes on national policy during a time of domestic upheaval and international tension, and working to represent Alaska’s unique interests in resource development, infrastructure, and governance. He chose not to seek reelection to the Ninety-second Congress in 1970 and instead became a candidate for the Republican nomination for Governor of Alaska, though he was unsuccessful in securing the nomination.

Outside of elective office, Pollock remained active in public and civic life. He continued his work as a practicing attorney and became involved in national advocacy related to firearms and outdoor activities. He served as a past president of the National Rifle Association of America, reflecting his long-standing interest in hunting, marksmanship, and Second Amendment issues, and extending his influence beyond Alaska to a national constituency.

In his later years, Pollock resided in Arlington, Virginia, where he lived from 1998 until his death. He died on January 9, 2011, closing a life that spanned service in World War II, participation in the transition of Alaska from territory to state, and representation of Alaska in the United States Congress.