[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 71 (Monday, May 23, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S3222]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  REMEMBERING REV. DR. WALTER SOBOLEFF

 Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, it was only a few short years 
ago, in October of 2008, that I stood before this body to honor one of 
Alaska's most cherished elders, the Reverend Doctor Walter A. Soboleff, 
in commemoration of his 100th birthday.
  Today, I come before you with a heavy heart, to share with you news 
of the passing of that distinguished and revered Tlingit elder and 
leader. On this day I ask that we honor the life of an extraordinary 
man and remember his inspirational journey.
  At 102, on Sunday May 22, 2011, during the breaking light of that 
morning's first dawn, the Reverend Doctor Walter A. Soboleff quietly 
stepped from a restful sleep into the Northern winds, into the budding 
spring of the Southeast forest, to begin his final flourishing journey 
from Earth to heaven.
  Reverend Soboleff is often described as a man of God. His encouraging 
and often humorous words and outlook on life served as a beacon of 
light to so many who had the honor and privilege to know him. His 
consistently positive words were not only eloquent but also 
inspirational, and one could say they were truly words inspired by God.
  Reverend Soboleff was active and present during most of Alaska's 
history. In 1957, he was in Juneau to open the Republican Convention 
Invocation. He was our State's eldest Republican and indeed more than 
just a witness, the living embodiment of the history of our great 
State. He recognized and believed that one of the qualities that made 
our Nation so great is that our Founding Fathers were God fearing and 
led with their hearts and minds open to the Creator.
  The passing of Reverend Soboleff leaves a void that we can never hope 
to fill. The Native elders of Alaska are unique culture bearers of our 
history, land, and people. They are a vital link between the past and 
present; the connection between two worlds, the old and new. They also 
have a significant responsibility to ensure that future generations 
know who they are and from where they came, by telling the stories and 
passing on the oral traditions of Alaska Native cultures that have 
struggled to maintain survival.
  Reverend Soboleff was born November 14, 1908, on Killisnoo, a small 
island village near Admiralty Island, north of Angoon in southeast 
Alaska. His mother was Tlingit Indian and his father was the son of a 
Russian Orthodox priest serving in southeast Alaska. In his home four 
languages were spoken: Russian, German, English, and Tlingit. Reverend 
Soboleff's life was one of sacrifice and public service. But he 
certainly would not have viewed his service as a sacrifice.
  Reverend Soboleff was appointed to serve as minister of the Tlingit 
Presbyterian Memorial Church in Juneau. He ventured from his village on 
June 14, 1940, on a steamer and landed in Juneau well before the era of 
civil rights. To his dismay he was greeted with signs in restaurant 
windows that said ``No dogs or Indians'' and turned away when he tried 
to rent a room. But he was not the kind of man to let a bad situation 
get the better of him. Instead of feeling sorry for himself, he felt 
sorry for the innkeeper.
  In response, and in his way, he decided to open the doors of his 
church to any and all who sought to worship God. In the midst of a time 
of racial bias, Reverend Soboleff created within his church, a 
wonderful diversity of people from all races. His greatest message was 
for people to love one another--he often said that the greatest gift of 
civilization is for people to know who they are and to love each other 
regardless, because when there is love, there is peace.
  Reverend Soboleff received a bachelor's degree in education in 1937 
from Dubuque University in Iowa, and a divinity degree in 1940. He was 
awarded an honorary doctor of divinity by Dubuque University in 1952 
and an honorary doctor of humanities by the University of Alaska 
Fairbanks in 1968. He was also the first Alaska Native to serve on the 
Alaska State Board of Education, where he served as chairman.
  He was truly a man of distinction and grace and a pillar of 
traditional and modern society. He served seven terms as president of 
the Alaska Native Brotherhood as well as grand president emeritus. In 
1952, the Reverend accepted a commission in the Alaska Army National 
Guard, serving as Chaplain for 20 years, retiring with rank of 
lieutenant colonel. He then went on to found the Alaska Native Studies 
Department at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. Over the course of 
his life he served God and his people well and was a leader of 
extraordinary courage, inspiring a hope for love and peace in all who 
knew him.
  On Wednesday, May 25, Alaska's Governor Sean Parnell has ordered 
flags to be flown at half-staff in Reverend Soboleff's honor. Reverend 
Soboleff wanted to be remembered as one who tried to do his best in a 
time of changing culture and one who took positives from both the 
Native and Western worlds. I think I can speak for all of Alaska when I 
say he achieved that goal. I would like to offer Reverend Doctor Walter 
Soboleff's family and many friends my heartfelt condolences. Know that 
he served the Native people and our beloved State of Alaska over the 
course of his entire life, 102 years; and it is my hope that his life 
will continue to serve as an inspiration to all of us.

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