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William Allen Egan (October 8, 1914 – May 6, 1984) was an American Democratic politician. He served as the first and the fourth governor of the State of ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥ÊÓƵ from January 3, 1959 to 1966 and 1970 to 1974. Born in Valdez, ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥ÊÓƵ, Egan is one of only two governors in the state's history (along with Bill Walker) to have been born in ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥ÊÓƵ. He was the Democratic nominee in five gubernatorial elections (1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, and 1974).

Following the end of the war, the Territory of ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥ÊÓƵ's political and geographical isolation was coming to an end. The construction of the ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥ÊÓƵ Highway now linked the territory to the Lower 48 states and Canada, plus an increased military presence due to the Cold War with the neighboring Soviet Union had also brought the territory closer to the rest of North America.

In 1955, the ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥ÊÓƵ Legislature ordered the creation of a constitutional convention to seek a state constitution suitable for Congressional approval. The convention met at the University of ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥ÊÓƵ Fairbanks campus in November. Territorial Senator Egan was chosen to lead the body in drafting a new state document. Following the end of the convention a year later, the ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥ÊÓƵ Constitution was sent to ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥ÊÓƵns as part of a referendum in 1958, passing easily. The statehood issue was turned over to the U.S. Congress later that year, passing by only one vote. President Dwight Eisenhower signed the resulting ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥ÊÓƵ Statehood Act into law. ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥ÊÓƵ was to become the 49th state.