Valdez, Alaska to Gain Statue of Famous Resident, Born in 2335: One William T. Riker

Valdez, Alaska is kind of out there on the far end of things. Best known as the terminus of the Alaska pipeline (and the location of the infamous Exxon Valdez oil spill), Valdez is also a popular tourist destination, with some wondrous salmon and halibut fishing in Prince William Sound.

What's not as well known is that Valdez is — or will be — the birthplace of a famous character in American television, that being Commander William T. Riker of "Star Trek, the Next Generation" fame. Now a group of Alaskans are seeking to have the freewheeling Commander Riker immortalized with a bronze statue in his hometown — or what will one day become his hometown.

To “Star Trek: The Next Generation” fans, the first officer aboard the Enterprise was a highlight of the show’s adventures in seeking out new life and new civilizations in space: the final frontier.
Now, a group of fans want to honor the character’s roots with a bronze statue in his hometown: the Last Frontier.
Cameron Harrison is spearheading the effort. Like Riker, he also grew up in Valdez. A lifelong science fiction fan, he said the story goes that Gene Roddenberry, the creator of “Star Trek”, was inspired to make one of his main characters an Alaskan after visiting the state.
“To know that Gene Roddenberry was so impressed and taken with Alaska that he purposefully made one of his characters from here is something I think we should pride ourselves on and celebrate,” Harrison said.

Riker was in many ways the James T. Kirk of the "Next Generation" — irreverent, free-wheeling, mercurial, popular with ladies, and with a somewhat loose interpretation of regulations; he made a good counterpart to the, shall we say, more cerebral Captain Jean-Luc Picard. As Mr. Harrison explains:

“He’s kind of fly by the seat of your pants, rugged, into fishing and sports and a team player, but also does his own thing, which I think is very Alaskan,” Harrison said. “We all have to work together to survive up there, but we’re all definitely individuals.”

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Indeed, the very characteristics that made the character of Will Riker appealing are quintessentially Alaska. Alaskans in general are hardy and strong, willing to take risks, outward-looking, and fond of adventure; one could scarcely live in the Great Land without having some of those traits.

This isn't the first such statue of a Star Trek figure to be proposed or put into place.

Similar statues have been built in Riverside, Iowa– the future birthplace of Captain James Kirk from the original “Star Trek” series — and Bloomington, Ind., where Captain Kathryn Janeway of “Star Trek: Voyager” hails from. Even the coincidentally named Vulcan, Alberta dedicated a bust to Spock, the iconic “Star Trek” Vulcan played by actor Leonard Nimoy.

Yes, James T. Kirk was born in Iowa, like so many notable people — John Wayne, Johnny Carson, and me.

So, writing as an Alaskan, I say, go for it, Valdez! Heroes are important, and Alaska has had a bunch of them throughout its history — there's no reason to assume we won't have more, even in the 24th century.

As of this writing, it is unclear whether Jonathan Frakes, who portrayed Will Riker on television and in film, will be present at any unveiling of the statue based on his likeness.