Gasser, G. W. (George William), 1875-1962

George William Gasser (1875-1962), and Charles Christian Georgeson (1851-1931), were pioneers in Alaskan agricultural research, and developed varieties of grains and vegetables suitable for growing in Alaska. Georgeson, who came to Alaska during the gold rush to establish agricultural stations for the federal government, opened stations on the Kenai Peninsula (1899-1907), Fairbanks, Matanuska and Rampart. Gasser was in charge of the Rampart station from 1907 to 1921, then was transferred to the Fairbanks station. In Fairbanks, he also taught at the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines, later the University of Alaska, from 1928 to 1945. He was the first Commissioner of Agriculture for Alaska (1945-1959), and he served in the Alaska Territorial House of Representatives from 1951 to 1953.