364 Boyer Ave
Baker Center, 2nd Floor
Walla Walla, WA 99362
Sally Rodgers Award for Lifelong Achievement 2005
Sally Rodgers Award for Lifelong Achievement
The Sally Rodgers Award for Lifelong Achievement was created in 1999 to honor Sally Rodgers, long time director of alumni relations. This award is given every other year by the Alumni Association to "an individual/or individuals who graduated from Whitman College over 50 years ago and whose life exemplifies the qualities of a liberal arts education." This award is presented at the 50-Plus Reunion.
2005 Sally Rodgers Award for
Lifelong Achievement Recipient
Appointed to a position in the Department of the Interior in 1971, Adele Harris Goss '46, worked for the Assistant Secretary for Management, where she strove to fulfill President Nixon's goal of hiring more women at the executive levels in government. In her nineteen years in the U.S. Government, she was the first woman in many of the positions she held.
But Adele's efforts have extended far beyond the campus. She has been a member of the board of directors of numerous organizations including the Walla Walla General Hospital Advisory Board, Downtown Walla Walla Foundation, Carnegie Art Center, Walla Walla Symphony Guild, St. Paul's Episcopal Church Vestry and the Walla Walla Chamber of Commerce. While involved with the Chamber, she served as chair of the Tourism and Ambassador's committees and on the Blue Ribbon Tourism Committee which oversaw the hiring of a consultant to promote tourism. She also served on the editorial board for the Chamber and is currently a member of the Annual Banquet committee.
Back in the 1990s, Adele led the effort to rename the Walla Walla Veterans Hospital in honor of General Wainwright, a Medal of Honor winner who was born at Fort Walla Walla, and on Veterans Day November 11, 1996, the hospital's name was officially changed to the Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial Veterans Affairs Medial Center.
She is now involved with the Walla Walla Noon Rotary Club, serving on the Program Committee, the Annual Family Christmas program, and Valentine's Day celebration; she developed and managed the Rotary Veterans' interview program, having converted all the 25 interviews to CDs for the Rotary's archives.
Another twenty-five years later, when asked if she'd ever retire from the practice of law or as a business executive, Beadie replied: "I like who I am and what I do. Why would I ever get out of the saddle?" This tireless Honolulu resident has always welcomed challenges and today is widely recognized as a prominent attorney, business executive, community leader, Hawaiian activist and devoted family woman.
Beadie's professional and community endeavors continue to be recognized with awards by numerous organizations including the 2004 Distinguished University of Hawaii Alumni Award, 2003 Pacific Business News Kupuna Business Woman of the Year Award, 2001 Lifetime Achievement Award from Hawaii Women Lawyers, 1997 HWL Lawyer of the Year, 1997 Annual Salute to Women Leaders Award, and Legislative Resolution for 1991 Distinguished Woman of the Year for Outstanding Achievement. Regardless, Beadie considers her 15 years as a stay-at-home-mom as her greatest achievement.
Because of her commitment to her community, her culture and the environment, the Whitman College Alumni Association proudly recognizes Beadie Kanahele Dawson '51 as a recipient of the 2005 Sally Rodgers Award for Lifelong Achievement.
Alumni
