[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 137 (Monday, October 5, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11449-S11450]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO DAVE ROSE
Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I take a moment to honor Dave Rose, an
Alaskan who has dedicated his life to public service. This weekend the
American Diabetes Association (Alaska area) is honoring Dave for his
leadership in raising funds to combat this disease. He will be the
first recipient of the ``Golden Rose Award'' honoring his commitment in
the fight against diabetes.
Dave has diabetes, but he hasn't let the disease slow him down. Even
with impaired vision and regular dialysis treatments, he has been a
tireless fund raiser, spokesman, and volunteer organizer. When Dave
isn't working to help combat diabetes he lends his time to a whole host
of causes including the Anchorage Concert Association Foundation, the
Alaska Pacific University Foundation, the Alaska Federation of Natives
Sobriety Foundation, and the Alaska Community Foundation. Dave and his
wife Fran also have their own foundation which distributes funds to
arts, health, and higher education programs.
Dave's leadership in Alaska goes beyond the philanthropic. After a
distinguished career in the Army, he spent many years on the Anchorage
Assembly. He also shepherded Alaska's permanent fund from a fledgling
portfolio to the multi-billion dollar account which stands as a rainy
day fund for the time when Alaska's oil revenues decline dramatically.
Dave's optimism, his love of people, and his willingness to share his
talents for the betterment of others deserves our recognition. Alaska
is a better place for Dave's dedication and commitment.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that an article about Dave
Rose entitled ``Golden Attitude'' be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the article was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
[From the Anchorage Daily News, Sept. 29, 1998]
Golden Attitude
(By Susan Morgan)
All was quiet in Dave Rose's offices at Alaska Permanent
Capital Management Co. one morning last week, so he figured
the stock market was doing well.
``I'd hear screaming'' if there was trouble, said Rose, the
company's chairman.
Rose, first director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp.,
knows the signs. Since retiring in 1992--the fund grew to
$13.5 billion from $3.8 billion and earned more than $8
billion in cash during the 10 years he was there--he's been
running his own money management company, now investing about
$1.5 billion dollars for Alaska clients.
As during his tenure with the Permanent Fund, business is
quietly successful.
[[Page S11450]]
``We are always classified as dull and boring. We hit a lot
of singles (return rates),'' Rose explained. ``If we hit a
double, we're euphoric.''
This is a man who unabashedly loves his work. ``They pay me
to do this, which is fun.''
That appreciation for the good things in life has been made
sweeter by Rose's recent struggles to maintain his health.
While many of those with diabetes suffer eye, heart or kidney
problems, Rose--diagnosed 15 years ago--has been hit hard by
all three.
Now 61, he is dependent on daily shots of insulin, has no
vision in his left eye, underwent quadruple bypass heart
surgery this year and endures three hours of dialysis--losing
7 pounds of fluid each time--three times a week while he
awaits a kidney transplant.
Dialysis is an arduous process in which Rose's blood is
removed from his body via a needle in an artery, then
``dewatered'' and cleaned of toxins--work normally done by
healthy kidneys. The blood is returned through another needle
inserted in a vein. Rose's arm shows a long line of scars
from the process.
``I have nails in my workshop that are smaller than those
needles,'' he says.
But Rose, who calls himself ``basically an optimist,''
hasn't taken to his sickbed. He's been known to dress up in
costumes for the amusement of others during dialysis and has
added to an already jampacked personal schedule.
In addition to owning several local businesses, running his
investment firm and serving as finance director for Gov. Tony
Knowles' current campaign, Rose has added the American
Diabetes Association to the already lengthy list of
charitable organizations to which he volunteers time and his
prodigious fund-raising energy.
Crediting a ``good Rolodex'' for his success, Rose has led
a small group of local bicyclists to national championships
in the Tour De Cure, a fund-raising event for the American
Diabetes Association. For three years in a row, until this
year, ``Rose's Riders'' raised more money than any other team
in the United States--more than $80,000 in four years.
Because of those efforts, the Alaska office of the
association has created the Golden Rose Award. In a ceremony
Saturday, Rose will be its first recipient.
``We wish to honor Dave for his generosity, as well as his
commitment . . . to improve the lives of people with diabetes
and to find a cure,'' district manager Connie Weel wrote in a
press release.
Meanwhile, Rose looks for the best in his situation. With
just one arm to use during dialysis, he can't manage both a
book and the now-necessary magnifying glass, so he listens to
books on tape--especially his favorite ``trashy mysteries.''
He even gets a kick out of a conversation with his doctor
about whether he should get a Seeing Eye dog.
``He said to get a Lab, If I do, because in Alaska, if
you're blind you can get a free hunting license.''
Rose urges Alaskans to get a test to show if they're among
the millions of Americans with undiagnosed diabetes--``You
can deal with it if you catch it early enough''--and
emphasizes the importance of becoming an organ donor.
Most important to him seems to be not letting diabetes
limit his life. He and his wife, Fran--they married in 1959
and she's now ``my eyes and driver''--dote on their Maine
Coon Kitten, two grown sons and gardens.
``I'm trying to live a normal life and fit everything in,''
Rose says.
____________________