Blake Matray, Executive Director

 

Blake Matray is a native of Darien, Illinois. He graduated from Monitni Catholic High School in Lombard, IL.  After high school, Blake attended the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado and graduated in 1990.  Upon graduation, Blake attended USAF Pilot Training in Del Rio, TX and earned his pilot wings in 1991.  Blake served 10 years on active duty with the USAF as a B-52 Bomber Pilot.  During an assignment at Minot AFB in North Dakota, Blake met Iditarod musher Brad Pozarnsky and bought two puppies from him. The puppies became his first leaders and Blake eventually added more dogs to form a competitive distance team. In 2000, Blake left the Air Force and joined the Alaska Air National Guard at Eielson AFB near Fairbanks. He then moved his dog team north to Two Rivers with the hopes of some day running in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. During his qualification, Blake’s team completed the Tustumena 200 in 2001 and in 2002, the Denali 300. Finally, in 2003, Blake and his team got the chance to participate in the Iditarod.  In the years since, Blake’s team has completed the Tustumena 100 and finished the 2007 Don Bowers 200 Sled Dog Race in Willow. 

      On June 23, 2007, Blake married the former Erin Harms of Prior Lake, Minnesota.  The couple currently resides in Two Rivers and maintains a kennel of 27 working AKC Siberian Huskies.  Their kennel name is Brown Dog Outfitters and the Siberians comprise Team BDO.  

      Blake is a founding member of the board of directors of The Sled Dog Fund, Inc. and also serves as the Executive Director.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Erin Matray, Secretary/Treasurer

 

Erin Matray is a native of Prior Lake, Minnesota. After graduating from Prior Lake High School, she attended the U. S. Air Force Academy and graduated in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. While at the Academy, Erin was the Captain of the 2002 NCAA Champion Women’s Rugby Team. Erin served on active duty with the U. S. Air Force for five years as an Aerospace Physiologist. Her assignments included Moody AFB, GA and Eielson AFB, AK. Erin is an active member of Zion Lutheran Church in Fairbanks, Alaska and enjoys fly-fishing in her spare time. On June 23, 2007, she married Blake Matray and now resides in Two Rivers, Alaska with 27 Siberian Huskies, a Chocolate Lab named Kona, a Shetland Sheepdog named Zebe and Denali the English Setter. Erin serves as the Secretary and Treasurer of The Sled Dog Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deborah Lanigan, Vice President

 

Deborah Lanigan is a native of Alaska, having grown up in Juneau. She moved to the Fairbanks area in 1998 and is employed as an Eligibility Technician III with the State of Alaska Department of Health and Human Services.  Deb is the mother of three children and enjoys working with her horses whenever she can find the time. Deb is a member of the board of directors and also serves as the Vice President of the Sled Dog Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walter Lanigan

 

Walter Lanigan is a native of upstate New York. At an early age he began riding bulls and eventually found himself riding on the PBR circuit sponsored by Justin Boots. After a tour of duty in Vietnam, Walt got the chance of a lifetime and rode bulls at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Walt is employed by HC Contracting and also is the owner of Lanigan’s Retreat, a lodge on Lake Chandalar in the Brooks Range.  Walt is a member of the board of Directors of The Sled Dog Fund, Inc.

The Sled Dog Fund, Inc.

OFFICER BIOGRAPHIES