Mushers' Hall of Fame

Raymond Paul

Hometown

Percy Blatchford

Hometown

Norman Vaughn

Hometown

Natalie Norris

Willow

Leonard Seppala

Hometown

John Hegness

Hometown

John “Iron Man” Johnson

Hometown

George Attla

Hometown

Fox Maule Ramsey

Hometown

Faye Delzene

Hometown

Eva Seely

Hometown

Earl Norris

Willow

Dr. Roland Lombard

Hometown

Clyde “Slim” Williams

Hometown

AA Scotty Allen

Hometown

DeeDee Jonrowe

Willow

DeeDee Jonrowe, a beloved figure across Alaska, is known not just for her incredible mushing career but for the strength and heart she brought to the trail. Based out of Willow, she ran the Iditarod 36 times, finishing in the top ten 16 times and earning a reputation for both speed and sportsmanship. DeeDee was a tough competitor with a bright pink parka and an even brighter spirit—famously running the race just weeks after finishing chemotherapy in 2003. She embodied resilience, compassion for her dogs, and a deep love for the Alaskan way of life, making her a role model far beyond the Iditarod trail. 

Dick Mackey

Fairbanks

Dick Mackey, a true Alaska original, made his mark on mushing history with grit, determination, and a legendary finish. Based out of Fairbanks, he was one of the Iditarod’s early pioneers and a co-founder of the race, helping shape it into the iconic event it is today. In 1978, he won the Iditarod by just one second—jumping off his sled and sprinting across the finish line to beat Rick Swenson in what remains the closest finish in race history. But Dick’s legacy didn’t stop there. He raised a family of mushers, including his sons Rick, who won the Iditarod in 1983, and Lance, who went on to become a four-time champion. His youngest son, Jason, has also competed in the race, carrying on the Mackey family tradition. Dick represents the heart of old-school Alaska—tough, loyal to his dogs, and born for the trail.

Dorothy Page

Wasilla

Dorothy Page, often called the “Mother of the Iditarod,” played a crucial role in preserving Alaska’s sled dog heritage. Living in Wasilla, she was a historian with a deep love for Alaska’s pioneer past and envisioned a long-distance sled dog race to honor the role mushers and their dogs played in the state’s early development. In the late 1960s, she teamed up with Joe Redington Sr. to help bring that vision to life, and by 1973, the first Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race was underway. Her passion for history and community sparked a statewide tradition that still draws mushers and fans from around the world. Dorothy wasn’t just behind the scenes—she was the spark that helped light the fire, and her legacy lives on in every dog team that leaves the starting line in Anchorage.

Jeff Schultz

Anchorage

Jeff Schultz, Alaska’s official Iditarod photographer since 1982, has captured the spirit of the Last Great Race like no one else. Based in Anchorage, he’s spent decades flying in bush planes, riding snowmachines, and braving brutal conditions to document the raw beauty of the trail, the bond between mushers and dogs, and the vastness of Alaska’s wilderness. His iconic images have brought the Iditarod to the world and preserved its history for generations. More than just a photographer, Jeff is a storyteller—one who sees Alaska not just through a lens, but with the deep appreciation of someone who’s lived its adventure firsthand. His work is woven into the fabric of the race and into the hearts of Alaskans who know and love the trail.

Joe May

Trapper Creek

Joe May, a longtime Trapper Creek resident, is a name many Alaskans recognize from the golden era of dog mushing. After moving up from Minnesota, he settled into the off-grid lifestyle in the Susitna Valley, where he raised and trained his own team of dogs in true bush fashion. Known for his grit, humility, and deep connection to the land and animals, May won the 1980 Iditarod—back when the race was still raw and wild. His win wasn’t just about speed; it was about survival, savvy, and the kind of Alaskan toughness that folks across the state still admire.

Joee Redington

Manley Hot Springs

Joe “Joee” Redington Jr., eldest son of Joe Redington Sr., the “Father of the Iditarod,” was a respected Alaskan musher, breeder, and mentor who deeply shaped the state’s sled dog culture. Growing up along the Knik River, Joee started racing in the 1950s and won the 1966 Fur Rendezvous while serving in the U.S. Army. He earned a notable third-place finish in the 1975 Iditarod and became renowned for breeding versatile huskies suited for both sprint and long-distance racing. Living in Manley Hot Springs with his wife Pam, Joee helped establish the community as an important Iditarod checkpoint and was honored as an honorary musher in 2018. His lifelong dedication to mushing left a lasting legacy in Alaska’s dog sledding history.

Lance Mackey

Fairbanks

Lance Mackey, born in Anchorage in 1970, was an Alaskan mushing legend who made history by winning the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race four years in a row from 2007 to 2010. Coming from a family of champions—his father Dick and brother Rick both won the Iditarod—Lance carved out his own extraordinary legacy with grit and heart. In 2007, he became the first musher to win both the Iditarod and the Yukon Quest in the same year, proving his unmatched endurance and skill. Despite battling throat cancer and nerve damage, Lance’s determination never wavered, inspiring the mushing community and fans worldwide. He passed away in 2022, but his story of resilience and deep bond with his dogs continues to inspire Alaska and the sport of dog mushing.

Lavon Barve

Wasilla

Lavon Barve is a seasoned Alaskan musher, printer, and longtime volunteer who has been deeply involved with the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race since 1975. Based in Wasilla, Alaska, he began as a sprint musher when the Iditarod trail ran right behind his house. His curiosity about the trail led him to transition to long-distance racing, using his sprint dogs to compete in the Iditarod. Over the years, Barve has participated in multiple Iditarod races, with his most notable finish being third place in 1990. Beyond racing, he has served the Iditarod community in various roles, including as a judge and interim director. In recent years, Barve has focused on missionary work and continues to be an active volunteer, sharing his extensive experience and passion for the sport.

Martin Buser

Big Lake

Martin Buser is a Swiss-born Alaskan musher renowned for his remarkable achievements in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Born on March 29, 1958, in Winterthur, Switzerland, he moved to Alaska in 1979 to immerse himself in the world of sled dog racing. Operating Happy Trails Kennels in Big Lake, Buser has participated in the Iditarod since 1980, completing the race 38 times as of 2025, with four victories in 1992, 1994, 1997, and 2002. In 2002, he set a then-record for the fastest finish time of 8 days, 22 hours, and 46 minutes, a mark that stood for over a decade. Beyond his racing success, Buser is celebrated for his exceptional care of his dogs, earning the Leonhard Seppala Award five times. His positive attitude and sense of humor have made him a fan favorite, and he was inducted into the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. Buser continues to inspire both on and off the trail, sharing his experiences through motivational speaking and his book, DOG MAN: Chronicles of an Iditarod Champion.

Raymie Redington

Wasilla

Raymie Redington is a seasoned Alaskan musher and a pivotal figure in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race community. Born into the renowned Redington family—his father, Joe Redington Sr., is celebrated as the “Father of the Iditarod”—Raymie has been deeply involved in the sport for decades. He has participated in numerous Iditarod races, with his highest finish being 7th place in 1974. Beyond his personal racing achievements, Raymie has played a significant role in supporting and mentoring the next generation of mushers. His dedication to the sport and his family’s legacy continues to inspire many within the mushing community.

Roxy Wright

Fairbanks

Roxy Wright is a legendary Alaskan sprint musher known for breaking barriers and dominating the sport for decades. Starting her racing career in the 1980s, she became the first woman to win both the Open North American Championship in Fairbanks and the Fur Rendezvous Open World Championship in Anchorage, titles she claimed four times each. After a 20-year break, Roxy made an inspiring comeback at age 66 in 2017, winning both major races again and proving her lasting skill and determination. Celebrated for her dedication and fierce competitiveness, she remains a beloved and trailblazing figure in Alaska’s mushing community.

Susan Butcher

Fairbanks

Susan Butcher, born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on December 26, 1954, was a pioneering Alaskan musher renowned for her exceptional achievements in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. She won the race four times—1986, 1987, 1988, and 1990—and was the first woman to secure three consecutive victories. Butcher moved to Alaska in 1975 to pursue her passion for dog mushing, establishing her kennel in Fairbanks while training her dogs in Eureka, Alaska, a remote gold-mining town about 130 miles outside of Fairbanks. In 1995, she retired from competitive racing. She and her husband, fellow musher David Monson, raised their two daughters and continued to be involved in the mushing community. Butcher passed away on August 5, 2006, from leukemia. Her legacy endures through the annual Susan Butcher Day in Alaska and the continued operation of her kennel, Trailbreaker Kennels, managed by her daughter Tekla Monson .