The legacy of Coach Rankin will stand in a living memorial at Alaskan-Legacies.com.
Alaskan-Legacies.com, which sponsorship provided by Fairbanks Youth Sports, paid tribute to longtime former Fairbanks Little League figure Ken Rankin prior to the Alaska Goldpanners’ game against the Mat-Su Miners on July 18, 2005.
Special guests invited to take part in the festivities included former state legislator Gary Wilken and Ken’s brother Dale. Other special guest were invited by Fairbanks Youth Sports to take part in honoring this pioneer of Fairbanks Little League Baseball.
Rankin, a native of Knoxville, IA, passed away in November 2002, at age 73. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Ken came to Fairbanks in 1959 and immediately began coaching little league baseball, sharing duties with the late James Growden, namesake of today’s Goldpanners stadium.
Known largely for his unending quest to improve the Little League parks and for the colorful uniforms he developed, Ken posted mostly winning seasons over his decades of involvement with the sport. His two most successful teams were the Pan Am Jets and the Tundra Tours Yankees. He took numerous Fairbanks All-Star teams to the state finals and several to the regional championships in San Bernardino, Ca.
The Goldpanners, Alaskan-Legacies.com and Fairbanks Youth Sports were proud to pay tribute to this truly unique individual in Fairbanks history.
PICTURES FROM LEGACY NIGHT AT GROWDEN PARK
Interior Alaska Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2010
A youth baseball pioneer in Fairbanks, Ken’s selfless efforts served to remind us of the humane and noble purpose that is embedded in every person to teach and show children how to dedicate themselves, respect themselves, and challenge themselves through sports such as baseball.
During his time coaching Ken won seven Alaska State Little League titles and traveled with the teams to Seattle, WA, and San Bernardino, CA.
Ken was highly respected by his fellow coaches and the hundreds of players whom he coached during his 35+ years as a volunteer, which includes some fellow Interior Alaska Baseball Hall of Fame inductees.