[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 77 (Thursday, June 15, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S5948]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO ROGER MEIER

 Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to a great man, 
Roger Meier.
  The late Oregon Governor Tom McCall once said, ``Heroes are not giant 
statues framed against a red sky. They are people who say, `This is my 
community and it is my responsibility to make it better.' ''
  When Roger Meier passed away on June 5, I lost a trusted friend and 
Oregon lost a true hero. Through leadership, vision, and generosity, 
Roger made his community of Portland and his State of Oregon a better 
place in which to live, work, and raise a family.
  Roger was a fourth-generation Oregonian and a descendant of the 
founders of the Meier and Frank Company, one of Oregon's most beloved 
institutions. Roger spent 13 years working in the family business 
before venturing out on his own and serving as president and CEO of a 
privately owned investment company for more than 30 years.
  Roger earned a reputation as a savvy analyst of the business and 
financial scene. He put his intelligence and knowledge to work for all 
Oregonians, serving for 13 years as chairman of the Oregon Investment 
Council, which helps to manage pension funds for Oregon's public 
employees. Under his stewardship, Oregon's portfolio of investments 
grew from $400 million to $7 billion.
  Roger was also a tireless advocate for and a generous philanthropist 
to countless worthy causes and charitable organizations, including the 
Oregon Health Sciences University, Good Samaritan Hospital, and the 
Oregon Historical Society. Roger and his wonderful and gracious wife of 
54 years, Laura, also had a special love of art. Along with their good 
friends, Pete and Mary Mark, Roger and Laura's generosity has helped to 
make the Portland Art Museum into a world-class institution.
  It was fitting that a memorial tribute to Roger was held at the 
Portland Art Museum on June 11. My predecessor, Senator Mark Hatfield, 
spoke at the service and said that there was one word he believed best 
summed up Roger: gentleman.
  Senator Hatfield was right. A man of courtesy, kindness, honesty and 
integrity, Roger Meier was a true gentleman. He will be greatly missed 
by Laura, by his daughters Alix and Jill and their families, by his 
friends, and by the community and State he served so ably.

                          ____________________