The 1969 Alaska Goldpanners, like all previous Goldpanner teams, are managed by ever-popular Fairbanks mayor H.A. 'Red' Boucher, the founder of the club.

Boucher started the team in 1960 under the sponsorship of Pan Alaska Sporting Goods and the team was first called the Pan Alaska Goldpanners.  The team was later renamed the Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks, and sponsorship is now handled by a non-profit community organization, but Boucher remains as the man in charge on the field for the 10th consecutive season.

Boucher's assistant field manager for 1969 will once again be San Diego State College Coach Lyle Olsen.  Olsen, who will be in his fourth season with the Goldpanners, joined the club in 1966.

Boucher, now busy with his duties as executive director of the Fairbanks Industrial Development Corporation, was selected All-American Non-Professional Manager of the Year back in 1962 when the Goldpanners first visited the National Baseball Congress Tournament at Wichita, Kan.

Red, as he is widely known, is serving his second two-year term as Mayor of Fairbanks, having been re-elected unopposed in balloting last fall.  Prior to being elected mayor, Red served with the city council from 1961 through 1964.

As executive director of FIDCO, Boucher spends his time working to strengthen ties between Fairbanks and the rapidly developing petroleum industry.   Since inception of FIDCO in July of 1968, approximately 50 petroleum oriented service and supply companies have moved into the Fairbanks community.

Boucher is a strong believer in the development of youth and has aimed the Goldpanner program to this end.

The basic purpose of the program is to provide top-notch baseball for young players of the community to imitate - thereby developing baseball at all levels.

In addition, the Goldpanner program provides baseball of a nationally recognized caliber - thereby providing healthy spectator participation for the community as a whole.

The Goldpanner program has been responsible for the City of Fairbanks and State of Alaska receiving much nationwide recognition.

Boucher and his wife Heida, who also played a big role in the development of the Goldpanners, have five children - John, Johanna, Jamie, Jacqueline, and Jennifer.

Olsen and his wife Elizabeth have three boys - Eric, Nels and Lars.