Stevens Apparently Among Those Killed In Crash
August 10, 2010
| 3:55 PM
Officials in government and industry Tuesday mourned the loss of former Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, who appears to have died in an airplane crash in his home state Monday night.
Stevens, a former chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, was among the five passengers who died in the plane crash, AP reported. Others on the flight included former NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe and his son, both of whom appear to have survived, according to Reuters. O'Keefe currently serves as CEO of EADS North America, the arm of the European consortium that manufactures Airbus aircraft.
"A decorated World War II veteran, Sen. Ted Stevens devoted his career to serving the people of Alaska and fighting for our men and women in uniform," President Obama said in a statement. "Michelle and I extend our condolences to the entire Stevens family and to the families of those who perished alongside Senator Stevens in this terrible accident."
"From the very beginning, Ted was Alaska's greatest champion. He helped found his state, worked tirelessly to serve its unique needs in the Senate, and continued to be its fiercest advocate for the rest of his life," Senate Commerce ranking member Kay Bailey Hutchinson, R-Texas, said in a statement.
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski echoed this view. "I was greatly saddened to learn of the tragic passing of former Senator Ted Stevens. Senator Stevens devoted his career to serving the people of Alaska. He was an important advocate for building our 21st century communications infrastructure," Genachowski said in a statement.
FCC member Robert McDowell described Stevens as an "American original."
"From strengthening our armed forces, to forging equal rights for women athletes through the passage of Title IX, to helping connect rural America to the rest of the world through his tireless support of the Universal Service program, the beneficial effects of Senator Stevens' bold efforts have long been felt far beyond the borders of his beloved Alaska," McDowell added.
NAB President Gordon Smith, who as a former GOP senator from Oregon served with Stevens, said the Alaskan was "a towering figure in the U.S. Senate and shepherded some of the most important communications legislation through Congress during his tenure on the Senate Commerce Committee. Broadcasters have lost a friend, but America has lost a war hero and a legislative giant."
Stevens was defeated for re-election in 2008 by Democrat Mark Begich.
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