Eugene E. AND Catherine MORGAN TREFETHEN, Jr., 80TH BIRTHDAYS (Senate - August 04, 1989)
Mr. WILSON. Mr. President, I take this opportunity to salute two outstanding Americans, and dear personal friends, Eugene E. TREFETHEN, Jr., and his wife of 52 years, Catherine Morgan TREFETHEN, on the occasion of their 80th birthdays.
The lives of these two remarkable Californians are models of the best qualities in American citizens, qualities that enable our society to be an examplar where individual achievement is bounded only by ambition and ability, and achievers generously share their good fortune from an abiding sense of community responsibility. For many decades, the TREFETHENs have shined together as two points of light, the likes of which our President speaks when he describes the best of the American spirit.

Gene TREFETHEN is a product of our public system of education. He graduated from elementary and secondary schools in Oakland, CA, and the University of California, Berkeley. While still in college, he began his working career as a laborer in a quarrying operation of Henry J. Kaiser. In this young laborer, Mr. Kaiser saw the qualities of business leadership. Gene became the third lynchpin in the rapidly expanding Kaiser enterprises, together with Mr. Kaiser and his oldest son, Edgar.
Their combination produced results unique in modern business history. Together, these men developed a group of enterprises that helped open the depression plagued West to greater industrial and agricultural production by building gigantic hydroelectric projects including Hoover, Bonneville, and Grand Coulee Dams; they contributed to victory for democracy in World War II by setting the pace for production of Liberty ships, combat aircraft, and other war material; they stimulated postwar conversion and recovery through the production of housing, automobiles, and basic building materials for American industry; they exported the principles of productive partnership by funding international ventures with American know-how, capital, and respect for their host country’s culture; they joined with pioneering physicians in founding one of this Nation’s largest health care programs and they established one of our private sector’s largest philanthropic foundations.

Gene TREFETHEN retired happily from his first career in 1973, only to reactivate his remarkable talents and energy in two new pursuits. He has developed the world renowned TREFETHEN Vineyards in Napa Valley; he has devoted more of himself to community service including raising millions of dollars for the capital requirements of many educational, cultural and voluntary social welfare institutions that serve hundreds of thousands of his fellow Americans. Last year, the San Francisco Bay area recognized him as its outstanding volunteer fund raiser on the occasion of National Philanthropy Day. His concern for human rights on a global scale is reflected by his participation in the international conference on the Helsinki accords in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, as a member of the United States delegation.

Catherine Morgan (Katie), chose between a promising career in fine arts and becoming anchorwoman for a future family when she became Mrs. TREFETHEN in 1937. This gracious lady has stood beside her husband as hostess, foreign traveler, sounding board and consultant, mother of their daughter Carla Jean and their son, John Vance, and grandmother of four. In addition, she has pursued her interest in support of art and art institutions, and in higher education for women as a supportive alumna of Mills College.

On September 12, hundreds of friends of the TREFETHENs will gather in San Francisco to celebrate the 80th birthdays of these two remarkable citizens. Their gift, in respect and friendship, will be the TREFETHEN professorship, permanently endowed at the Walter A. Haas School of Business of the University of California, Berkeley.
In October, the literature on American business history will be enriched by publication of the first full, scholarly chronicle of the Kaiser enterprises' contributions to our Nation’s social and economic fabrics during Henry J. Kaiser’s lifetime. This biography of Mr. Kaiser documents his reliance on Gene TREFETHEN as an analyst, manager, and developer of the most vital resources in any endeavor, human resources.
I am privileged to count Katie and Gene TREFETHEN among my frie
nds. Countless numbers of individuals and families, both here in the United States and elsewhere, have a better quality of living or have found help in time of critical need because the TREFETHENs, together, have made a significant difference in social and economic development. For this measurable achievement and for their inspiring examples of the American spirit applied, I invite the Congress to join in sending the TREFETHENs our greetings, our congratulations and our appreciation of their humanitarianism.

From the Berkeley Benefactor- Eugene TREFETHEN Dies at 86
Eugene E. TREFETHEN Jr., who guided projects from the Hoover Dam and Bay Bridge to the creation of Haas School of Business, died Jan. 31 at his Napa home. He was 86.
"He was a legendary figure on the Berkeley campus," said Earl Cheit, dean emeritus of the Haas school. "I have never worked with anyone with greater generosity and idealism. More than anyone else, he was responsible for the success of the new building."
TREFETHEN, who concluded his career with the prestigious TREFETHEN Vineyards, began it as a sand and gravel laborer for Kaiser’s Livermore facility while still a Cal student. He soon became an assistant to Henry J. Kaiser, working with him on the Hoover Dam and the Bay Bridge. During five decades with Kaiser, he held many management positions and served as president and vice chair of Kaiser Industries Corp. "Gene TREFETHEN will be remembered for his untiring service to Cal as an outstanding volunteer whose leadership as a member of the UC Berkeley Foundation Board of Trustees, as well as his involvement in countless fund-raising campaigns, inspired others to emulate his philanthropic spirit," said Chancellor Tien.
TREFETHEN was Alumnus of the Year in 1979, received the Chancellor’s Award in 1981 and in 1989 was awarded the Berkeley Medal. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Catherine; his daughter, Carla Jean; his son, John, and four grandchildren. A public memorial service will be held at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco Feb. 29 at 1:30 p.m.
^{Copyright 1996, The Regents of the University of California. Produced and maintained by the Office of Public Affairs at UC Berkeley}