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[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 127 (Wednesday, September 19, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6441-S6442]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                        REMEMBERING ALBERT ADAMS

 Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, on August 13, 2012, Senator Al 
Adams passed away peacefully at home in Anchorage, AK, surrounded by 
family.
  Albert P. Sikiagruk Adams was born June 18, 1942, in Kotzebue, AK. He 
attended Mt. Edgecumbe High School in Sitka. Following high school, he 
attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks and RCA Technical 
Institute.
  Al Adams is survived by his wife, Diane; his children Al ``Sonny'' 
Adams, Guy Adams, Herb Adams, Michelle Merculieff, Thomas Adams, and 
Luke Adams. He is survived by his sisters Adra Distefano, Sarah 
Scanlan, and

[[Page S6442]]

Darlene ``Red'' Seeberger, their families, and his brothers-in-law John 
and Thomas Simonson, Mike Scanlan, and Don Distefano and sister-in-law 
Peggy Simonson. He also leaves his beloved grandchildren and extended 
family members.
  Al lived a life of service and was known for a generosity of spirit 
and a drive to help others in both his public and private life.
  To his family, he was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather for 
whom family was the highest priority. He often organized subsistence 
hunting and fishing trips for his children, where he passed down 
traditional Inupiat skills. He coordinated all the logistics for these 
memorable outings and even served as camp cook, making sure everyone 
was well fed. Whether dipnetting at the mouth of the Kenai River, 
caribou hunting outside of Kotzebue, or visiting the fish wheel at 
Chitina, he let his wife, children, and grandchildren know they were 
loved and they came first and foremost in his life.
  He was also a romantic and loving husband, planning vacations for his 
wife, Diane, to celebrate and share the milestones they achieved 
together as a couple. Travel was one of his favorite pastimes and one 
he loved to share with her.
  Although he led a very public life, he also was a man of many unsung 
good deeds on a personal level. Many people did not know he kept cash 
in his vehicle console to give those in need, or that he provided meals 
to those who were hungry. At Christmas, boxes of turkeys would arrive 
at Bean's Cafe and money for holiday goody bags would arrive at the 
Friends Church. The individual recipients never knew who had lent them 
a hand.
  Even when Al was ill, he cared for others and tried to ease their 
worries with humor. He wanted others to be comfortable and to enjoy 
life. He put people first and was always prepared to serve them. He 
believed in God, in a higher power, and was a teacher and mentor to 
many.
  Publically, Al's service to his beloved State improved the lives of 
those he represented in rural Alaska. His long career in public service 
began in the late 1960s and included 8 years in the Alaska State House 
beginning in 1980, during which he represented District 37 which 
included the communities of the NANA/Maniilaq and Arctic Slope regions. 
From 1988-2000, he served in the Alaska State Senate, also representing 
the Bering Straits/Kawerak region.
  Following his retirement from the Alaska State Legislature, Al served 
as president of Adams Management Services and worked for the Northwest 
Arctic Borough and North Slope Borough as an adviser sharing his 
understanding of State government and how it could help the people of 
rural Alaska.
  In 2003, he began a new career as a lobbyist with a focus on 
representing rural and Alaska Native interests. He again provided a 
powerful voice in Juneau and Washington, DC, drawing on his years of 
State legislative experience. He brought the same passion to lobbying 
that he had as a legislator, always saying those he represented weren't 
his clients, they were his people. He tirelessly promoted the continued 
successes of Mt. Edgecumbe High School because of the valuable 
opportunities it provides to develop relationships among talented young 
Alaska Native people.
  Al's hospitality to his peers, staff, clients and visitors at the 
State capitol is still remembered to this day. His door and telephone 
lines were always open to Alaskans, no matter where they lived. He 
worked hard to guarantee rural Alaska gained its fair share of State 
funding and he joined his colleagues on statewide efforts that 
benefitted all Alaskans.
  An astute lawmaker, he was a master at understanding politics and 
State finances and chaired the powerful House Finance Committee during 
his 8-year term in the State House. He served 18 years on the 
Legislative Budget and Audit Committee and 12 years on the Operating 
Budget Conference Committee. He served on other key committees that 
helped protect subsistence and bring needed infrastructure and social 
services to rural Alaska.
  He fought hard for the establishment and continued existence of the 
Power Coast Equalization (PCE) program; convincing the Alaska 
Legislature to establish an endowment to fund PCE in perpetuity.
  Prior to his legislative service, he held other positions as 
president of Kikiktagruk inupiat Corporation. He also served on 
numerous boards including the Alaska Airlines Advisory Board, Arctic 
Power, Mt. Edgecumbe and NANA Regional Corporation.
  When I was elected mayor of Anchorage, AK, Al met with me and 
reminded me Anchorage is Alaska's largest Native community. When I was 
elected Senator, he continued to advise me on how together we could 
help all Alaskans.
  The people of Alaska will miss Senator Al Adams. He was a friend, a 
mentor, a humanitarian and an example for many generations of leaders. 
I will miss Al for not only his guidance on doing what's right for all 
of the people of Alaska but for his wit and his friendship.

                          ____________________
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