Al was born in Kotzebue, an Inupiaq community north of the arctic circle, in 1942.
I worked for Al for almost a decade. And I believe, without a doubt, that the transformational period in his life was the time he spent at Mt. Edgecumbe High School in Sitka.
Mt. Edgecumbe was (and is) a boarding school for rural Alaskans. It would have been a 100% Alaska Native student body when Al attended.
Al was known to burst into the Mt. Edgecumbe "fight" song on the least provocation- or no provocation at all. "Fight, sons of Edgecumbe High School - something, something something..." I do not remember the words; but I do remember the sentiment.
Education was very important to Al Adams.
Al came to political power in the Alaska State Legislature in very dramatic fashion. He was a member of a Democratic majority in the House of Representatives. He left his fellow Democrats and led a number of like-minded rural Democratic representatives to cross the aisle and form a coalition with Republicans to control the House of Representatives. This urban Republican/rural Democrat axis controlled successive House organizations for much of the 1980's. Al was the Chairman of the House Finance Committee. And we had money to spend.
I had the honor of being one of the Chairman's honchos. I was young and it was big time fun.
I learned much about politics and even more about human nature from working with Al and those lessons stood me in good stead for the remainder of my career in state government.
Al was very intelligent, charismatic, and generous. He also had a well deserved reputation for being someone you did not cross without consequences.
The picture below was taken this spring at the home of our mutual friend, Dave Gray.
Marla Berg, Elmer Lindstrom and Al Adams
I thought I would have many opportunities in the future to have a drink with Al and laugh about old times. But it is not to be...
Al's obituary was well done. Here it is:
On Aug. 13, 2012, Sen. Al Adams passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family.
Albert P. Sikkiagruk Adams was born June 18, 1942, in Kotzebue. He attended Mount Edgecumbe High School in Sitka. Following high school, he attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks and RCA Technical Institute.
The late senator lived a life of service and was known for a generosity of spirit and 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 Iñupiaq skills. He coordinated all the logistics for these memorable outings and even served as camp cook, making sure everyone else was well fed.
Whether dipnetting at the mouth of the Kenai, caribou hunting outside Kotzebue or visiting the fish wheel at Chitina, he let his wife, children and grandchildren know that they were loved and that 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 that he kept cash in his vehicle console to give to those in need, or that he provided meals to those who were hungry. At Christmas, boxes of turkeys would arrive at Bean's Café and money for holiday goody bags would arrive at the Friends Church. The individual recipients never knew who had lent them a hand.
Even as his illness progressed, 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.
Publicly, the late senator'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 eight 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, Sen. Adams served as president of Adams Management Services and worked for the Northwest Arctic Borough and North Slope Borough as an advisor, 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, D.C., 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 Mount Edgecumbe High School because of the valuable opportunities it provides to develop relationships between talented young Alaska Native people.
Sen. Adams' hospitality to his peers, staff, clients and visitors at the 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 that rural Alaska gained its fair share of state funding and 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 eight-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 Cost 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 and executive vice president of NANA Regional Corporation. He also served on numerous boards including the Alaska Airlines Advisory Board, Arctic Power, Mount Edgecumbe and NANA Regional Corporation.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Sarah Seeberger; sister, Vicky Bartholme, and his father, Frank Scott, and his much loved aunts and uncles.
He is survived by his wife, Diane Adams; sisters, Adra Distefano, Sarah Scanlan and Darlene "Red" Seeberger; children, Al "Sonny" Adams, Guy Adams, Herb Adams, Michelle Merculieff, Thomas Adams and Luke Adams, and 10 grandchildren.
A memorial service will be in Anchorage at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012, at ChangePoint, 6689 ChangePoint Drive in Anchorage. A reception will follow.
Funeral services will be at the Kotzebue High School gym at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17, 2012.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to Al's many friends and family who offered their assistance during his illness and who came to visit, called, brought food and sent messages of love and support.
Memorial contributions may be made to Beans Café, 1101 E. 3rd Ave., Anchorage, AK 99501.
You were a good man, Al, and I will miss you. Rest in peace.
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