Anthony Joseph Dimond (November 30, 1881 – May 28, 1953) was an American

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politician who was the Alaska Territory Delegate in the United States House of Representatives from 1933 to 1945. Dimond was also an early champion of Alaska statehood.

Early life

Dimond, known as "Tony," was born in

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and attended Catholic schools, taught school in Montgomery County (1900–1903), and was a prospector/miner in Alaska (1905–1912) before studying law and beginning practice in Valdez (1913).

Political career

Dimond's political experience includes: US Commissioner in Chisana, Alaska (1913–1914); Special Assistant US Attorney for the 3rd Judicial Division of Alaska in Valdez (1917); Mayor of Valdez (1920–1922, 1925–1932); Alaska Territorial Senate (1923–1926, 1929–1932); and District Judge for the 3rd Division of Alaska (1945–1953). He also served as a Delegate to the

Democratic National Convention The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 ...

in 1936 and 1940. He died on May 28, 1953, in

Anchorage Anchorage () is the largest city in the U.S. state of Alaska by population. With a population of 291,247 in 2020, it contains nearly 40% of the state's population. The Anchorage metropolitan area, which includes Anchorage and the neighboring Ma ...

. A Roman Catholic, Dimond was a member of organizations such as the Elks, Moose and

Eagles Eagle is the common name for many large birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of genera, some of which are closely related. Most of the 68 species of eagle are from Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just ...

Mentees' careers

His secretary from 1933-1934, Bob Bartlett, eventually became a United States senator from Alaska, serving from 1959-1968. His godson, Bill Egan, became Alaska's first Governor after Statehood, serving from 1959-1966 & 1970-1974. His son,

John H. Dimond John Henry Dimond (December 28, 1918 – June 1985) was an American jurist who served as a justice of the Supreme Court of Alaska from August 7, 1959 to November 30, 1971. He was one of Alaska's inaugural justices, serving along with Buell Nesbet ...

, became a Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court following statehood.

Legacy

Today, November 30 is celebrated by the State of Alaska as "Anthony Dimond Day." In

A. J. Dimond High School A. J. Dimond High School (DHS) is a public four-year high school in Anchorage, Alaska, and is a part of the Anchorage School District. It has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Dimond serves students in th ...

and Dimond Boulevard, a major thoroughfare, are named after him.

Slattery Report

In 1940, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt was considering making Alaska an international Jewish homeland, Dimond was the main force behind defeating the effort.Kizzia, Tom.
Are there no exceptions?
" ''Anchorage Daily News,'' 19 May 1999. Accessed 1 Feb. 2013.

References

External links

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Anthony Dimond
at ''100 Years of Alaska's Legislature'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Dimond, Anthony Joseph 1881 births 1953 deaths Alaska Territory judges Delegates to the United States House of Representatives from Alaska Territory Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Alaska Mayors of Valdez, Alaska Members of the Alaska Territorial Legislature Politicians from Anchorage, Alaska People from Palatine Bridge, New York 20th-century American politicians 20th-century American judges