[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 149 (Wednesday, October 3, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S12529]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO MARTHA ANNE DOW

 Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, famed educator Henry Adams once 
said, ``a teacher affects eternity. They never know where their 
influence will stop.'' I wish to pay tribute to Dr. Martha Anne Dow, 
who passed away on September 29 after a courageous battle with breast 
cancer. Martha Anne had served for the past 9 years as president of the 
Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls, OR. In that position--
and throughout her career--she had a positive impact on countless 
lives. Her influence will truly continue for generations and 
generations to come.
  Martha Anne came to the Oregon Institute of Technology after teaching 
for more than a quarter century in the fields of biology, microbiology, 
environmental science, and water quality. She served for 6 years as 
provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at OIT and moved into 
the president's office in May of 1998.
  I had the privilege of meeting President Dow on several occasions and 
was always impressed with her intelligence, enthusiasm, and vision for 
OIT. Her leadership transformed the institute, expanding the 
engineering, computer science, and renewable energy programs.
  President Dow's greatest passion was, perhaps, for the health care 
field. She realized the shortage of health care professionals in Oregon 
and across our country, and she believed that OIT could help.
  Through her leadership, OIT expanded their health care training 
programs with the goal of doubling the number of students in training 
for health care professions. Included in this expansion was the 
construction of a new center showcasing the most modern, 
technologically advanced equipment available. The first wing of the new 
facility opened on September 12 in Klamath Falls. In her honor, the 
building was officially named the ``Martha Anne Dow Oregon Center for 
Health Professions.''
  As she battled breast cancer, President Dow would often ask medical 
technicians providing her treatment where they had received their 
training. She was very proud to hear that many had been trained at OIT, 
in the very programs she helped to expand.
  Those professionals, and countless more to follow, are Martha Anne 
Dow's legacy. And I am proud to say her legacy will truly affect 
eternity.

                          ____________________