[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 175 (Tuesday, November 7, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S16727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   OSCAR DYSON, A FRIEND OF FISHERIES

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I rise today to note with great regret 
the passing of one of Alaska's most prominent citizens, Oscar Dyson, on 
Saturday, October 28.
  Oscar Dyson was a true pioneer and an authentic Alaskan sourdough who 
epitomized the can-do spirit of the Last Frontier.
  Born in Rhode Island, he first came to Alaska in 1940, after working 
his way across the country. When World War II began, he went to work 
building airstrips for the Army Corps of Engineers. When Japanese 
airplanes attacked Dutch Harbor and invaded the Aleutian Islands, Oscar 
Dyson was there.
  After the war, Oscar truly came into his own. He started commercial 
fishing in 1946, beginning a career that would span generations and 
would make him one of the most well-known and admired figures in the 
U.S. fishing industry.
  Over the years, Oscar pioneered fishery after fishery. Starting as a 
salmon and halibut fisherman after the war, he branched out into 
shrimp, king crab, and ultimately, in groundfish. In 1971, he made the 
first-ever delivery of Alaska pollock to a shore-based U.S. processor, 
starting an industry that now has an annual harvest of over 3 billion 
pounds--the largest single fishery in the United States and the fourth 
in value--which now represents a full 30 percent of the United States 
commercial harvest.
  In the 1970's, while remaining an active fisherman, Oscar also 
diversified, joining with several other fishermen to purchase what 
became a highly successful and innovative seafood processing company.
  Oscar thought of himself--first, last, and always--as a fisherman. 
But to those of us who knew him, he was far more. He knew that good 
citizens must be ready to give something back to this great Republic, 
and he was as good as his word. He served 13 years on Alaska's Board of 
Fisheries, and three terms on the Federal North Pacific Fishery 
Management Council. He also served his country as an advisory and 
representative in international fishery negotiations with Japan and 
Russia.
  He did not stop there. He was a founding member of the United 
Fishermen's Marketing Association and the Alaska Draggers Association. 
He gave his time to the Kodiak City Council, the Kodiak Community 
College, the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, and the Alaska 
Governor's Fishery Task Force, to name a few of many. And he worked 
tirelessly toward the goals of the Alaska Fisheries Development 
Foundation, and Kodiak's Fishery Industrial Technology Center. Always, 
he helped lead his fellow fishermen toward a stronger, sustainable 
future.
  In 1985, Oscar was chosen by National Fisherman magazine to receive 
its prestigious Highliner of the Year awards. And this year, just days 
before the fatal accident that took his life, he was made the National 
Fisheries Institute's Person of the Year, the institute's highest 
honor.
  Finally, Oscar believed strongly in our Nation's youth. Both by 
example and by application, his kindness, humor, understanding, and 
sage advice guided generations of young people. He helped them ``learn 
the ropes,'' and they gained the confidence to go out into the world 
and--like Oscar himself--to make it better. There can be no greater 
memorial.

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