Benny was the first Alaska Nativeto be officially admitted to the Elk’sClub in Alaska. John Gibbons ofKodiak sponsored him and recalledthat Benny broke racial barriers asElk’s Lodges in the southern UnitedStates argued against his initiationbecause of race. Despite theseprotests, Benny was admitted to theKodiak Elk’s Lodge #1772 in the early1960s, paving the way for otherAlaska Natives to join the fraternalorganization
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