Hazel P. Heath

Alaska Wild Berry Products In September 1946, Heath and her husband Ken partnered with Freda Coles to run the Kachemak Café on Pioneer Avenue in Homer, Alaska. Eventually, Heath took over operations of the café. Heath also began selling homemade local berry jams and jellies, canning on a large range powered by coal at the back of the café, establishing Alaska Wild Berry Products.

Heath's business plan was met with skepticism by locals, who doubted there were enough berries to "make gift boxes and ship them all over the country". and Hazel Heath continued to manage the business until she sold it in 1975.

Community service Heath is credited as a founder of the Pratt Museum in 1967. She was treasurer of the Homer Society of Natural History, Inc., the museum's sponsoring agency, from 1968 to 1983. She was the first woman president of the Alaska Municipal League Conference of Mayors.

Heath "was a national Republican delegate many times, and was a member of numerous federal, state and local boards and commissions, including the University of Alaska, local and state chambers of commerce, local and state museum boards, and state and national senior citizens advisory boards".

She worked as arts and crafts editor at Alaska magazine for five years.

Awards and legacy According to one source, "Heath’s pioneering role in local and state government paved the way for many other women to get involved in politics. She possessed an acute doggedness when undertaking something that would make life in Homer and Alaska better for herself and others."

In 1977 she was named the Homer Chamber of Commerce "Citizen of the Year", and the University of Alaska gave her a Meritorious Service Award in 1989.

Heath was inducted into the 2010 Class of the Alaska Women's Hall of Fame.