George Ishiyama
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George Ishiyama (1914-2003) was a Japanese-American businessman who was president of Alaska Pulp Corporation (APC) in Sitka, Alaska between 1983 and 2003.
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[edit] Biography
Ishiyama was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, and graduated in Economics from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1936. He and his family were interned during World War II at camps in Utah and Wyoming. However, because Ishiyama determined ways to improve camps operations he was assigned to work in Washington, D.C., with the Department of Interior which had charge of the camps.
After the war, Ishiyama traveled to Japan to assist in its rebuilding, and to assist in mutual understanding between the United States and Japan. This became a constant theme of his life.
Ishiyama first established himself as a businessman in Japan, and in 1960, he arranged for the sale of liquefied natural gas from the Phillips/Marathon plant on the Kenai Peninsula to Japan. This contract enabled the plant to be built. In the 1970's Ishiyama was a key leader in reclaiming and developing Tokyo Bay.
In 1976, Ishiyama arranged for a high level trade mission to Alaska headed up by Tashio Doko, then the head of Japan's most powerful business group, the Keidenren.
In 1982, Ishiyama took the lead in attempting to arrange for the export of Alaska oil to Japan.
In 1983, Ishiyama became President of Alaska Pulp Corporation.
[edit] Philanthropy
Ishiyama donated significant sums to the Sitka Summer Music Festival and other arts, educational, and cultural programs in Sitka. He also underwrote the "Sasayama Scholarships" for Sitka and Wrangell high school students.
Ishiyama funded a Whale Park in Sitka, Alaska as a public recreation facility. He donated APC's mill site to Sitka as an industrial park in 1999. He was instrumental in constructing the golf course in Wrangell. He contributed the cost of the park on which the Wrangell Museum is located, and donated a rifle range to the City of Wrangell.
Ishiyama continued the lossmaking operation of the Sitka pulpmill and Wrangell sawmill notwithstanding the difficulties of operation due to litigation and loss of a substantial amount of Tongass National Forest timber.
Ishiyama served on numerous boards, including the Advisory Council to the California Academy of Science, the Industrial Bank of Japan, and Wells Fargo Bank. He was an advisor to the chairman of the Bank of America.
[edit] Awards
In 1991, his contributions to the promotion of mutual understanding and business relationships between Japan and other countries was recognized when he was awarded the Medal of Honor, and was named to the distinguished Order of the Rising Sun by the Emperor of Japan.
[edit] Tributes
- In honor of his contributions to the City of Wrangell, a street was named after him.
- On February 22, 2003, Alaskan Governor Frank Murkowski announced the creation of a state holiday (George Ishiyama Day)
