Iditarod Sled Dog Race legends Doug Swingly, DeeDee Jonrowe and Aliy Zirkle will be inducted as 2026 members of the Hall of Fame.
The induction, which is scheduled for Oct. 15, also includes two beloved mushing dogs – Andy (from Rick Swenson’s team), and Granite (from Susan Butcher’s team).
Set for the Alaska Aviation Museum, the 2nd Annual Legends of Iditarod Gala aims to celebrate the remarkable people, canine athletes, and organizations that have left a lasting impact on the world’s most renowned sled dog race.
Doug Swingly, of Montana, was a dominant musher throughout the 1990s and into the early 2000s, winning the race in 1995, 1999, 2000 and 2001.
DeeDee Jonrowe was another mainstay of the race, competing in all but three contests from 1980 to 2014. She finished as runner-up three times in the 1990s and had 16 top-10 finishes.
Aliy Zerkle raced for more than 20 years, ending in 2021 with three runner-up awards and seven top-10 finishes.
These mushers competed during what is widely regarded as the heyday of the Iditarod, a time when many legendary teams were vying for supremacy amid intense international media coverage.
In addition to mushers and their dogs, this year’s honorees also include members of the “Founders Class” – Dick Macky, Dick Tozier, Leo Rasmussen and John Norman, as well as beloved volunteers Cheryl Zachary and Bob Sept. The Iditarod Air Force – a team of volunteer pilots who transport dogs and supplies across the 1,000-mile race – is also being recognized.
The inaugural 2025 Hall of Fame class included champion racers Rick Swenson, Libby Riddles, Susan Butcher, Martin Buser, Jeff King and Lance Mackey.
