Roadtrippin’ 2025: Bomb expert, former mayor, and born on Adak

ADAK, Alaska (KTUU) - For lots of reasons, Thom Spitler is an interesting man.

He’s a former mayor and an expert on clearing bombs and explosives left behind here in Adak by the military.

He’s also the star of the Netflix show “Pirate Gold of Adak Island.” He’s quick with a swear word and telling a good story.

Spitler is a rare breed for another reason: he’s one of the few people who were born on Adak.

He remembers the Husky Club and seeing an Elvis movie in the old movie theater. His first girlfriend worked at the Baskin-Robbins on Adak and Spitler spent his first day of life sleeping in the church, which now leans heavily to its side.

He and his buddies grew up on Adak. Spitler’s father worked at the airport, although most young people in Adak lived here because their father was stationed at the military base.

He remembers the basketball team didn’t have any rivals so they played against the soldiers.

“It was a bunch of 16, 17, or 18-year-olds playing 19 or 20-year-olds, but the 19, 20-year-olds were military men and they were high school boys,” Spiter said. “It was fun.

”There was no other high school teams to play so they played Navy guys.”

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