HUMAN

Name: Clifford Sisson

Residence: Alaska

Age: 81

Occupation: Retired from Alaska State Parks

Years involved with Iditarod: I was part of the original group with Rod and Allen Perry and Mike Lee in 1970, ’71, working with Dick Tozier, Joe Redington Sr., Mackeys, Dan Seavey, that core group. I was on the peripheral. I wasn’t one of the main players, but I was involved to some degree and I had started a team and part of my dogs come from that group to build a team to run on a future race.

Current Location: Settler’s Bay Lodge in Wasilla, Alaska
Date of Photo: March 1, 2022

Temperature: 68 F Indoors

What, who or how and when did you first get involved with the Iditarod?

My original involvement in the Iditarod was primarily with Rod Perry, his brother, Allen Perry. Our families have been friends for 90 years, so we go way back. And Mike Lee was also involved in the Willow area with Leo and Joe Sr. and some of the primary people involved in the original concept and idea. I was not directly involved, but I was connected at that point in time.

What was one of your most memorable Iditarod experiences?

It’s difficult to pick out one most memorable experience because it was my rookie year, the only year I ran, and I hadn’t had a chance to really wrap my mind around. But one of the most memorable was one of the dogs was injured at the old Historic Iditarod, on one of the river crossings. The dogs got tangled. It was at night and one of them ended up with a laceration on the eye, and the veterinarian sutured that on the Iditarod River, right in the village, the historic village. So, that was also documented by Tim Jones when he wrote his book.

What does the 50th running of the Iditarod mean to you?

50th running of the race, I feel very honored to be a part of the gathering to celebrate it. I feel honored to be connected with the 50 years in some way. Primarily, like I said, I always kind of go back to Rod Perry. I’m still helping him with his kiosk down on the Fourth Avenue. So I appreciate the opportunity to share these moments with past and present, I guess the first 10 years, racers that have completed the race.

What do you know for sure?:

It would be important to me not to see this race ever evaporate. It needs to continue. And one of the things from what I understand, Joe Redington Sr., he was near passing away and he asked his associates and people connected to the Iditarod not to let his race ever be disrupted and not allowed to run anymore in the future. So, passing the baton from the elders to the junior mushers is very important to all of us. And that was a significant part of… To keep it continued. And let it have a future presence in Alaska indefinitely, hopefully.