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William George Graham, 79, passed away at his Fairbanks cabin on June 18, 2007. Bill was a resident of Petaluma, Calif., but after visiting Fairbanks some years ago, he found he liked the people and the area so much he spent at least half the year here. Bill was particularly interested in dog mushing — he was a sponsor of the Yukon Quest each February. He brought many California friends to Fairbanks and treated them to his snowy winter tours, which included informative impromptu lectures on Fairbanks’ history delivered in distinctive bass tones.

Bill was active in aviation in California and flew the Alaska Highway a number of times. He never wearied of discussing the finer points of flying.

Bill was born May 6, 1928, in Moline, Ill., the eldest of six children. He was educated at St. Leo’s School in Chicago — for which he retained a lifelong affection — and Washington State University, where he received a degree in forestry in 1955.

As a young man, he worked in U.S. Forest Service camps in Montana and Idaho where he honed his wilderness skills and developed an appreciation for those who work in the woods. His education was interrupted by a two-year tour of duty in the Army during the Korean War. The tour include service in Korea. When he returned to the states, Bill married, completed his education, started his family and began a career with the forest service that lasted 30 years.

After leaving the federal government, Bill had a second career as manager of the Petaluma Municipal airport from 1983-1997. During his “second retirement,” Bill began visiting Alaska and spending more time in Fairbanks. Bill was an accomplished “hand” with any and all tools and was happy around any toolshed. He built several handsome dog sleds from scratch as part of his love for dog racing. Well into his later years, Bill retained immense energy and could be counted on to volunteer for his friends’ building and repair projects.

Bill’s interests were encyclopedic, and his recent reading ranged from histories of the Russian revolution to manuals on small engine repair. He delivered his learning lightly, often with a chuckle that reflected a well-developed sense of humor.

Bill is survived by his wife, Mary Lou of Penngrove, Calif.; sons and daughter-in-law, Mike and Peggy Graham of Sunnyvale, Calif., and Tim Graham of Penngrove; daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Wayne Willhite of Ridgecrest, Calif.; grandson, Greg Willhite and granddaughter, Lori Willhite, both of Ridgecrest; three brothers; and two sisters.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, Sept. 9, at the Alaska Dog Mushers Hall on Farmers Loop. The gathering, beginning at 3 p.m., will be followed by a potluck.

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