2011 Hall of Fame Inductee
Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Contribution to Aviation
Edward B. "Ed" Rasmuson
Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Contribution to Aviation
Ed Rasmuson is a 3rd generation Alaskan whose roots go back to 1901 when his grandparents came to Alaska to serve as missionaries with the Swedish Covenant Church in Yakutat. From a young age, he was involved in the family banking business, National Bank of Alaska (NBA), working his way up from assistant cashier to Chairman of the Board. In 2001, NBA was sold to Wells Fargo Bank and Ed remains Chairman of the Statewide Advisory Board. He also chairs the Rasmuson Foundation which focuses on sustainable giving that promotes a better life for Alaskans throughout the State.
Early in his life, Ed became interested in aviation. He started flying at age 16 and got his pilot's license at age 17. When he was a young boy visiting the Museum of Flight in Seattle, he noticed that many of the great old airplanes that he had seen flying around Alaska were now being displayed in Seattle. He didn't think that was right and vowed at that time to do his part to help preserve Alaska's aviation heritage within Alaska.
The Rasmuson family became involved in the Alaska Aviation Museum shortly after its creation in 1986. They donated personal and corporate wealth to assist in the development and growth of the Museum and Ed donated considerable personal time. He also leveraged his influence with other private, corporate and government sector entities to bring support to the Museum.
Several major aircraft have been donated to the Museum by the Rasmusons and over the years, major donations by them have been used to acquire and renovate hangar exhibit space and restore vintage aircraft. Without question, Ed's promise to help preserve Alaska's unique aviation history can be credited with helping to keep the Alaska Aviation Museum afloat and progressing. In recognition of his support, the Museum dedicated one of their major exhibit halls in his honor in 1994.
Contributions from Ed and the Rasmuson Foundation have enabled the Museum to completely restore the historic 1932 "American Pilgrim 100B" aircraft which came to Alaska in 1936 and is noted on the National Register as an American historic structure. This project was completed in Januar, 2013.
Mr. Rasmuson is an active, involved philanthropist and community supporter. He continues to participate with a wide variety of organizations and educational entities, providing incredible resources throughout Alaska. The Aviation Museum greatly appreciates a young boy's dream to make sure that those great old airplanes that were responsible for opening up Alaska, had a place in Alaska to be preserved and available for future generations to see, experience and build their own dreams upon.
