[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 117 (Thursday, August 2, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S5971]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    REMEMBERING MARY LOUISE RASMUSON

 Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Mary 
Louise Rasmuson, who passed away on July 30, 2012, in Anchorage, AK. 
She was an Alaskan pioneer in every sense of the word--as a trailblazer 
in Alaska soon after statehood, to serving in the military, creating 
pathways for Alaskan access to better health and living conditions, and 
as an advocate of stronger education and culture. I have known Mary 
Louise my entire life. She was a warm, gracious woman with a boundless 
capacity to give herself and energy to causes that impact every one of 
us.
  Mary Louise was born in East Pittsburgh, PA, on April 11, 1911. Her 
father, George Milligan, died when she was 12. Her mother, Alice, 
emigrated from France at the age of 16. Mary Louise remained close to 
her mother and her brothers, George and Malcolm, for the rest of their 
lives. She enrolled in the Margaret Morrison Carnegie College, 
graduating with a bachelor's degree in education, and later earned a 
master's in school administration from the University of Pittsburgh. 
Mary Louise also received an honorary doctor of laws degree from the 
Carnegie Institute of Technology. She was one of the first two women to 
receive this degree.
  In 1942, as the United States entered World War II, Mary Louise left 
her job as an assistant principal in a school district near Pittsburgh 
and became a member of the first class of the new Women's Army Corp. 
She rose quickly through the ranks, and in 1957 became the fifth 
Commandant, a position she occupied for 6 years as an appointee of 
President Eisenhower and President Kennedy. During her 20 years of 
service, she was awarded multiple medals and honors. As director of the 
Women's Army Corp unit, military historians credit her with major 
achievements, including increasing the Women's Army Corp's strength, 
insisting on effectiveness in command, working with Congress to amend 
laws that deprived women of service credit and benefits, and expanding 
the range of military opportunities open to women. At one event 
honoring her, former U.S. Secretary of Defense William Perry said, 
``When you hear about women seizing new opportunities to serve, 
remember that they march behind Colonel Rasmuson.''
  On November 4, 1961, she married Elmer E. Rasmuson, chairman of the 
National Bank of Alaska and a civilian aide in Alaska to the Secretary 
of Defense. She announced that she would retire from the Women's Army 
Corp as of July 31, 1962. In 1962, a civilian once more, Mary Louise 
Rasmuson moved to Anchorage with her husband. The city had perhaps 
50,000 residents at the time. She quickly became active in civic 
affairs, and together Mary Louise and Elmer formed a dynamic team that 
was influential in the developing State. Mary Louise quickly adapted to 
life in Alaska and became active in community groups. She was a member 
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and several other military 
organizations, the American Association of University Women, Zonta, 
Rotary Wives, Pioneers of Alaska, Anchorage Women's Club, League of 
Women Voters, Anchorage Republican Women's Club, Alaska Native 
Sisterhood, and National Association for the Advancement of Colored 
People, among other groups.
  In 1967, Mary Louise began what would become 45 years of service on 
the board of the Rasmuson Foundation, a board whose mission is to 
support Alaskan nonprofit organizations to help them become more 
efficient and effective in improving the quality of life for Alaskans. 
She maintained an active role in the affairs of the foundation and 
regularly attended board meetings until her late nineties. In addition 
to helping direct millions of dollars in grants to Alaska nonprofit 
organizations through the foundation, she expressed her own 
philanthropy to institutions like Providence Healthcare in Alaska, 
Brother Francis Shelter, and the Alaska Native Heritage Center.
  Perhaps her most visible impact on Alaska came from her service as 
head of the Municipality of Anchorage Historical and Fine Arts 
Commission and later as chair of the Anchorage Museum Foundation. Her 
vision, passion, and personal effort led to the creation of the 
Anchorage Museum of Art and History in 1968.
  Mary Louise was intelligent, diplomatic, principled, ethical, gentle, 
and firm. She spent her life breaking barriers, challenging 
conventions, and seeking to improve opportunities for those around her. 
Her impact can be felt virtually everywhere in Alaska, whether 
improving the position of families, founding a world-class museum, 
enhancing health care research, or advancing education of Alaska Native 
cultures on a national stage. Her contributions have reached every 
corner of Alaska.
  I join all Alaskans in paying my respects and honoring the 
extraordinary life of Mary Louise Rasmuson and know that for 
generations to come, everyone who walks into the Anchorage Museum 
bearing her name will be doing the same. May she rest in peace.

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