William G. Moran Sr. William G. Moran Jr.: First Bank: father and son take leadership role and give to the community.

• Author: Parmelee, Catherine
• Position: Junior Achievement Special Section

During his lifetime, William "Bill" Moran Sr., 84, has worn many hats. He served as regent of Seattle University from 1984 to 2000, as president of the Alaska Chamber of Commerce for two terms, as mayor of Ketchikan also for two terms in the 1980s, and on the State Board of Education during the Reagan administration. "I am also a dutiful husband," he said.

However, to many, Moran Sr. is most likely well known for his leadership roles at First Bank, the Alaska-based commercial bank headquartered in Ketchikan.

Moran Sr. was born in the Seattle area and eventually moved to Alaska looking for work. He went on to raise his family in Juneau and in Ketchikan. He joined First Bank as a vice president in 1955. Five years later he became the bank's president, and today is still director of its board. "I quasi-retired about 10 years ago," he said.

Although Moran Sr. has served in various capacities in the business, community service and education worlds in the state of Alaska and in Washington, that which he appears to be most proud of is his children.

Moran Sr. and his wife, Mary, have a dozen children: Joseph, William, Michael, Mary, Maggie, Agnes, Timothy, Barney, Neil, Matthew, Patrick and Bridget. Among them, the dozen hold around 20 to 21 college degrees. They work, or have worked, in the fields of medicine, finance, law, engineering, insurance and transportation, primarily in Alaska and in the Pacific Northwest.

Three Moran sons entered the world of banking and finance, but it was William "Bill" Moran Jr., 50, who followed his father's footsteps into First Bank's doors. Moran Jr. graduated from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, in 1975 with a business finance degree, and then went to work at First Bank in 1976.

"Bill (Jr.) has quite a background," said his proud father. "He was regional wrestling champion for Notre Dame until he suffered a knee injury during a competition. And he has been running First Bank for 20...