ANCHORAGE– Aug. 8, 2019 – Today, members and staff of the Alaska Oil and Gas Association join thousands of Alaskans in mourning the sudden death of Sen. Chris Birch.

“Sen. Birch was first and foremost, a family man,” said Kara Moriarty, President and CEO of AOGA. “His love for and dedication to his wife, children, and grandkids is impossible to overstate. He was also a fierce, unapologetic advocate for developing Alaska’s natural resources responsibly; his years of working in mining and oil and gas provided him with unique insight into how important development was to Alaska’s economy, and the state’s future. His dedicated, positive, can-do spirit permeated everywhere he went. Sen. Birch was also the father-in-law to former AOGA Counsel, Josh Kindred. We pray for comfort and peace to all the family.”

Janet Weiss, President, BP Alaska
“What a sad day for Alaska. Senator Birch was a steadfast public servant and friend. He cared deeply about our state, was a champion for Alaska’s potential and found ways to navigate tough issues and solve problems. Our hearts go out to his family. He will be truly missed.”

Tom Barrett, President, Alyeska Pipeline Service Company
“Sen. Birch made countless contributions to the state of Alaska’s communities and also to its most critical industries. That included working for Alyeska Pipeline for several years in the early 1990s. He built such a remarkable legacy, including his proud and resilient advocacy for responsible resource development. My thoughts and condolences are with his family during this sad time.”

Benjamin Johnson, president and CEO, BlueCrest Energy
“We are terribly saddened by Senator Birch’s sudden passing. Chris was highly respected and widely recognized as a wise, generous, and caring individual. He left us all with an inspiring legacy of leadership that will not be forgotten.”

AOGA is a professional trade association whose mission is to foster the long-term viability of the oil and gas industry in Alaska for the benefit of all Alaskans. More information about the organization can be found at www.aoga.org, on Facebook (AlaskaOilAndGas), twitter (@AOGA), and Instagram (@alaskaoilgasassociation).

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