Appointment of William H. Olsen, Anchorage, Alaska, as director of the Juneau Area Office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, sometimes known as the Alaska Native Service, was announced today by Secretary of the Interior Douglas McKay. Mr. Olsen succeeds Hugh J. Wade who was relieved of responsibilities as Area Director last November.
“The job of Area Director for the Indian Bureau in Alaska," Secretary McKay said, “is one of the most difficult and challenging assignments in the field service of the Department of the Interior, It covers a tremendous geographic area and involves many complicated problems in the fields of health, education and resources. Each of these is of deep and continuing interest to the Department. In selecting William H. Olsen for this assignment, the decision was made to have the post filled by an Alaskan fully qualified by his background of knowledge of the Territory to fulfill the duties of the office. Under Mr. Olsen’s direction I am confident that the Alaska Native Service will develop among the native peoples an outstanding citizenry prepared to make its contribution to the future growth and progress of Alaska."
The new appointee, who is 33, is a former municipal judge at Anchorage and has been practicing law in that community since 1945. During World War II, he served in the Army for five and a half years. He holds a law degree from LaSalle Extension University and was admitted to the Alaska Bar in December 1944.
In addition to his law practice, Mr. Olsen has been active in many types of civic affairs in Alaska. He served for two years as chairman of the Anchorage Chapter of the American Red Cross and was appointed chairman of Alaska World War II Veterans Board by Territorial Governor Frank Heintzelman. He was formerly national director from Alaska of the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce and is now vice president of the Junior Chamber of Alaska.
Mr. Olsen is married and has six children, one of whom is now serving a minority enlistment in the United States Navy.
