Todd Palin

Todd Palin is the husband of Alaska Governor and vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Todd was born on September 6, 1964 and is a commercial fisherman, former oil field production supervisor and is a 4 time champion of the Tesoro Iron Dog snow machine (snowmobile) race that follows the route of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Todd Palin Source

Todd Palin

Todd was born in Dillingham, Alaska to Jim and Blanche Palin. Todd's father was a general manager for Matanuska Electrical Association and his mother was a secretary for the Alaska Federation of Natives. She is one quarter Yup'ik. The Yup'ik tribe is a native Eskimo tribe. Todd's grandmother is a member of the Curyung tribe. A native tribe from the Dillingham area.

Todd took some college courses, but never graduated from college. Instead, he worked in the Alaska oil fields for 18 years. He worked on Alaska's North Slope for British Petroleum (BP).

Todd married his high school sweetheart Sarah Louise Heath, aka Sarah Palin, in 1988. Todd and Sarah eloped in order to relieve their parents from having to pay for an expensive wedding. Todd and Sarah settled in Wasilla, Alaska, where they both attended high school. Todd and Sarah's first son, Track, was born the next year. Todd continued to work for BP and also started a commercial fishing business. He fishes for salmon off of Bristol Bay on the Nushagak River. Todd has also volunteered in local youth sports, helping coach hockey and basketball. Todd has a Private Pilot Certificate and owns his own airplane, a Piper PA-18 Super Cub. That's where the name of his youngest daughter, Piper, came from.

Todd's wife Sarah Palin began running for public office in 1992 when she ran for the City Council in Wasilla. She served two terms on the City Council and then was elected Mayor of Wasilla. Sarah served as mayor from 1996-2002. Sarah took her biggest leap to run for governor of Alaska in 2006. She beat out several long serving politicians to become the first female governor of Alaska and also the youngest governor of Alaska.

Todd Palin - The First Dude

After Sarah became the first female governor of Alaska, Todd affectionately became known as the First Dude! The official website of the State of Alaska called Todd "The First Gentleman," but of course, that was a little too stiff for the Palin family, which adopted the term "First Dude." While his wife was governor, Todd Palin was known for encouraging Alaskan young people who could not afford to go to college to go into the Alaska oil and gas industry. He also advised his wife on worker's issue for the oil and gas industry and other issues.

Todd worked for 18 years for BP as an oil production supervisor on Alaska's North Slope and was a member of the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (the United Steelworkers).

Todd took a leave of absence from the oil fields in 2007 in order to avoid a conflict of interest while Sarah negotiated with BP in her role as governor for a new oil deal with the state. After seven months he went back to work for BP, but not in a management position.

Todd finally resigned from the oil production business in September 2009 in order to spend more time with his family. The oil business took him away for long periods of time. Todd continues to run the family's fishing business on Bristol Bay.

Todd Palin and Sarah Palin
holding Trig Palin

Todd and Sarah Palin have five children - Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper and Trig. Trig has Down Syndrome and was born shortly before Sarah Palin was named as John McCain's running mate in 2008. Todd and Sarah knew he would be born with this disability, but they chose not to abort him, in line with their respect for human life.

Todd Palin - Snowmachine racer

Todd is a four time champion of the Tesoro Iron Dog, the world's longest snowmachine race. He has competed every year since 1993. "Snowmachine" is what they call a snowmobile in Alaska. The Tesoro Iron Dog race follows the same track as the Iditarod Trail, the famous dogsled race, with a few extra hundred miles to Fairbanks added on. Todd, along with a partner, won the race in 1995, 2000, 2002 and 2007. In 2008, only 400 miles from taking the title again, Todd had a dangerous accident in which he broke his arm, but was not seriously injured. Todd was taken to the hospital, but returned to the race and still came in fourth place.

Todd Palin - Shockwave

On August 29, 2008, Republican presidential candidate John McCain announced that Sarah Palin would be his vice-presidential running mate. On this date, Sarah and her family were introduced to the nation. Sarah's nomination sent a shockwave throughout the nation's media and political world, energizing Republicans who were charmed by her down home personality and her wonderful family. The nomination put Todd and the whole family into the spotlight, which can glare pretty brightly at times.

Todd Palin videos

Watch Todd give his first public statement after Sarah Palin became the Republican vice-presidential candidate, along with a few comments from "The View's" Elizabeth Hasselbeck.

This is a short video of Todd and his partner Scott Davis finishing the Tesoro Iron Dog snowmobile race in Fairbanks, Alaska in February. Sarah Palin and Piper Palin can be seen at the end of the clip.

Read about Todd Palin's family:

Sarah Palin	Track Palin	Bristol Palin	Willow Palin	Piper Palin	Trig Palin