[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 17985]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING RICHARD E. ``DICK'' KIPPER

 Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I wish to pay tribute to Richard E. 
``Dick'' Kipper, an extraordinary leader in the fight against 
Alzheimer's disease. In November, Dick will complete his term as 
National Board Chair of the Alzheimer's Association, a position he has 
held for two years and which caps nearly a decade of commitment to the 
cause of creating a world without Alzheimer's disease.
  Like so many others, Dick joined the fight against Alzheimer's after 
the disease touched his family. Dick lost his beloved father to 
Alzheimer's. But because of his efforts, future generations will be 
better off.
  Dick has played a vital part in helping the Alzheimer's Association 
achieve its strategic goals of advancing research, enhancing care and 
support and raising public awareness. He has logged thousands of miles 
traveling across the country and devoted countless hours on behalf of 
the Alzheimer's Association. Here are just a few of his 
accomplishments.
  Dick Kipper first joined the Alzheimer's Association's National Board 
in 1996 and quickly rose through the ranks to assume significant 
leadership positions. He chaired the National Board's Development 
Committee, was elected vice-chair of the National board, and served on 
the board's Diversity and Inclusion, Finance and Chapter Committees. He 
also spearheaded the effort to mobilize the board and chapters in 
support of the Association's ``billion dollar research goal.''
  Under Dick's guidance, the Alzheimer's Association has led the fight 
for increased research funding and launched a new campaign to change 
the way people think about Alzheimer's disease. Last year, the 
Association dedicated nearly $16 million to its peer-reviewed research 
grants program and initiated a ``Research Roundtable'' partnership with 
pharmaceutical companies to develop strategies for generating and 
sharing new information designed to accelerate progress in research. In 
July of this year, the Alzheimer's Association sponsored the 9th 
International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders, 
the largest gathering of Alzheimer researchers in history. More than 
4,200 scientists from around the world shared findings from 2,000 
studies showcasing the newest treatment advances in Alzheimer's disease 
and steps toward prevention. Dick's advocacy for increased research 
funding has also brought him to Washington each spring for the last 
three years to lobby Congress to increase federal funding for 
Alzheimer's research to $1 billion.
  Helping caregivers and family members understand that they are not 
alone in the fight against Alzheimer's disease and that there is hope 
on the horizon are other signature accomplishments of the Alzheimer's 
Association under Dick's leadership. In February, the Alzheimer's 
Association revealed a new brand identity, a redesigned website and its 
``Maintain Your Brain'' campaign to educate Americans about Alzheimer's 
disease. The Association also established a new advisory council to 
address critical issues related to prevention, diagnosis and imaging, 
disease progression, and improved treatments. Dick's leadership was 
instrumental in guiding the Alzheimer's Association through these 
projects.
  In addition to being an outstanding leader in the Alzheimer 
community, Dick is also an accomplished businessman. In 1967 he co-
founded AFSA Data Corporation, a student loan servicing company. After 
Fleet Financial Group acquired AFSA in 1986, Dick served as chairman of 
the board and chief executive officer. At his retirement in 1990, the 
company employed more than 1,000 people and had annual revenues that 
exceeded $65 million. He also was co-owner, president and CEO of Major 
Legal Services, a multimillion-dollar document acquisition, process 
server and court reporting service company headquartered in San 
Francisco. And, he is a board member of The Guggenheim Group, L.L.C., a 
venture capital and financial management firm.
  I salute Dick Kipper for his tireless efforts to help those with 
Alzheimer's and to create a brighter future without this 
disease.

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