[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 146 (Tuesday, September 19, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S13870]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO ROSALIND W. WYMAN

 Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I'd like to take a moment today 
to pay tribute to someone I consider to be one of my best friends in 
the world. She is a fireball of energy and someone who has truly 
touched the lives of many, many people.
  Rosalind Wyman is an extraordinary friend.
  ``Politics, arts, sports and my family are my life,'' Roz Wyman once 
said. Roz has indeed turned her passion into results.
  A native and resident of Los Angeles, Wyman has been involved in the 
political world since before she can remember; her baby book includes a 
picture of 2-year-old Roz smiling happily at a portrait of Franklin D. 
Roosevelt. Strongly influenced by her parents' belief that you should 
serve your community, she turned immediately to elective politics 
following her graduation from the University of Southern California.
  At the age of 22, Roz became the youngest elected legislator in a 
major U.S. city when she was elected to the Los Angeles City Council.
  From 1953 to 1965, Wyman served as a member of the non-partisan 
council, earning particular recognition for her successful drive to 
bring the Dodgers to Los Angeles.
  The late owner of the Dodgers, Walter O'Malley, often said: ``The 
Dodgers would not be in Los Angeles if it had not been for Roz.'' She 
also played a major role in the move of the Lakers basketball team to 
Los Angeles.
  In the years since she left the council, Wyman has applied her 
formidable organizational skills to a variety of local, national and 
international tasks. Among her many other accomplishments, Roz served 
by appointment of the President on the Independent Commission to Review 
the National Endowment for the Arts grantmaking procedures. Locally, 
she became President of the Los Angeles County Music and Performing 
Arts Commission in 1992.
  She served as executive chairperson of the Producers Guild of America 
(1977-1981) and as executive vice chair of the Los Angeles Center 
Theatre Group, which operates the Mark Taper Forum and the Ahmanson 
Theatre.
  She helped direct State and national campaigns and chaired two 
Democratic Congressional Campaign Dinners, each of which set records by 
raising over $1 million.
  Roz participated in the U.S. Delegation to the United National 
Economic and Social Council (UNESCO) and was part of the American 
delegation to the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe 
(Madrid, 1980).
  But, it was in 1983 that Roz Wyman--this legend from Los Angeles--
walked into my life.
  Roz became the first woman ever selected to be the convention chair 
and chief executive officer for a Democratic Convention. She had been 
selected to chair the 1984 convention in San Francisco. I was Mayor of 
San Francisco at the time. And I can tell you this: The first time Roz 
Wyman walked into my office with her list of items that needed to be 
provided by the city of San Francisco, I knew I had met someone with 
formidable determination and tenacity. And I knew I had made a friend 
for life.
  The convention was a huge success. And every convention since then 
has been modeled on what Roz made happen in San Francisco.
  Since then, I always knew that Roz was someone who could get the 
job--any job--done.
  When I thought about running for the U.S. Senate in 1992, Roz was one 
of the first people I turned to and she was one of the first people to 
volunteer to be a campaign co-chair.
  For the last 4 years of my life, Roz has been the truly inspirational 
force who, in spirit, has never left my side.
  She has opened her home to a tired candidate and staff. She has been 
the unyielding cheerleader who was always upbeat even in the face of 
tough times. And she has always been faithful to her vision of what is 
right for our State and our country.
  One of Roz's dreams, she told me, was to see a woman elected U.S. 
Senator from California. I am so honored, and indeed lucky, to be the 
recipient of Roz's focused attention.
  Roz will soon celebrate her birthday with her three children, her 
5\1/2\ year-old granddaughter, Samantha, and her many, many friends. I 
am so glad that her family has asked some of Roz's friends to pay 
tribute in some way to our Roz.
  There are few people in the world as passionate, as loving, as 
strong, and as inspiring as Roz Wyman.
  Many may know Roz because she was the youngest person ever elected to 
the Los Angeles City Council or because she almost singlehandedly 
brought the Dodgers from Brooklyn to Los Angeles.
  But, in my own heart, I will always know Roz because she is that 
special, life-long friend who helped make my dreams come true.

                          ____________________