As a 21 year employee of Alaska Airlines I can tell you he is modeled after a ramper from Alaska in the 50's-60's. I think he was from Nome. I've never heard his name. I can say the airline has tried to switch to some thing else on the tail but there is always an uproar.
Rumor has it that we will switch livery in the future and he will be gone. It will be a sad day if that happens.