The Claude Pepper Foundation Newsletter
Commemorative Stamp Honors Pepper
Senator Claude Pepper was honored by the United States Postal Service on September 7, 2000 with the issuance of a postage stamp bearing his image. The stamp was the second one released in the new Great Americans Series, recognizing the Senator's numerous contributions to his country and its people, especially the elderly. Pepper is the first Florida political leader to be featured on a postage stamp.
The stamp was dedicated at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on September 7, and in Tallahassee, Florida, on September 8, the 100th anniversary of Senator Pepper's birth.
The ceremony in Washington was attended by members of Congress, other dignitaries, friends and former staff. Rep. John Moakley, D-Mass., said he never forgot that his college education was made possible by the G.I. Bill of Rights that Pepper had supported. "Our country is a better place for having Claude Pepper as one of its leaders," said Moakley. Senator Bob Graham, D-Fl, noted that Pepper was "passionately devoted to people and the role of government to help meet their needs."
In Tallahassee, former Florida Governor Reubin Askew spoke to Pepper admirers of all ages packed into the Claude Pepper Center. "For 33 cents, you're looking into the eye of a man who looked after a nation, and its people. Many political foes tried to lick him. Well, now he's on a postage stamp, so they have their chance."
Also speaking during the Tallahassee event, Gema Hernandez, Secretary of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, paid tribute to Pepper. "Senator Pepper is a great American whose legacy will be felt many years in the future. The Department pays tribute to him as a champion of elders. He is a role model for all to age in a positive fashion with dignity."
The Pepper stamp is part of the Postal Service 2000 U.S. Stamp Program. In announcing the program earlier this year, Postmaster General William Henderson said, "The 2000 stamp program is a shining example of how commemorative stamps boldly chronicle American history in a way that is both interesting and education... These stamps will help bring pride and a little passion to that unique moment in everyone's day when we go through our mail."
Search Finds Florida's Oldest Stamp Collector
As part of the celebration surrounding the issuance of the Claude Pepper commemorative stamp, the Pepper Foundation conducted a statewide search for the oldest stamp collector in Florida. This was seen by the Foundation as a way to enable older Floridians, who were a prime concern of Pepper, to be honored along with him. Working with the United States Postal Service, the Foundation contacted some 40 stamp collecting clubs in Florida. The search yielded dozens of nominations from individuals ranging in age from 70 to 98.
The winner was Israel Putnam, of Brooksville, who is 98 years old and still works with his stamp collection up to 10 hours a day, seven days a week. "It gives me something to live for. It is the most enjoyable hobby that someone could ever have, especially in the later years," said Putnam in his nomination letter.
Putnam flew with his family to Washington for the unveiling of the commemorative stamp, and was an honored guest at the ceremony in Tallahassee. Also honored at the Tallahassee event were three "younger" collectors: Clarence Reid, 96, of Pembroke Pines; Lucille Fair, 92, of Orlando; and Lt. Col. William Jones, 90, of Winter Park.
Tallahassee Senior Center Alzheimer's Resource Center Claude Pepper Saturday Retreat
More than half of all older persons with severe mental impairments are victims of Alzheimer's. Characterized by a progressive deterioration of the mind and body, Alzheimer's can last from two to 20 years. More than 2,400 persons in Leon County, age 60 and over, suffer from Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia. Of the 4 million people with Alzheimer's disease in the United States, 70 percent live at home, often receiving part or fulltime care from family members. Caregivers are expected to be strong, patient and accept new responsibilities on an ongoing basis. The freedom to go to the store, to dine out or to sleep soundly through the night become distant memories. Caregivers feel overwhelmed, disconnected from friends and removed from activities of normal living.
The Claude Pepper Saturday Retreat provides supervised care for loved ones while caregivers have a few hours to take care of their personal needs. The only program of its kind in Tallahassee, Saturday Retreat offers one solution for caregivers to help their loved ones live at home for as long as possible. With the rising cost of nursing home care reaching over $40,000 a year, the program is a cost savings for the families as well as preserving their peace of mind. In 2000, the Foundation provided $15,000 to support the Saturday Retreat.
Tallahassee-Leon County Shelter
In 1986, after several Tallahassee homeless people died from exposure to the freezing weather, a makeshift shelter was opened in a church basement. Today, the Shelter has its own facility where it provides a bed to over 5,000 persons a year and is the leader in Leon County in providing free meals seven days a week. Services provided include lodging, dinner, breakfast, showers, laundry service and emergency assistance to families and individuals with special needs, such as a bus ticket to reunite the homeless person with relatives. The Shelter's cost to house one guest per night is $5.49. One day's incarceration for one person at the county jail costs taxpayers $65. During 2000, the Pepper Foundation provided funds and volunteers to support the programs and services of the Shelter.
The Claude Pepper Senior Walk/Run
There is much that can be done to delay or prevent the occurrence of age-related disability. Life style changes such as increasing exercise, maintaining proper nutrition and weight, and not smoking can make a real difference. Event such as the Claude Pepper Senior Walk/Run are designed to promote healthful life styles, this improving quality of life and delaying disability. This event is representative of Senator Pepper's belief in and personal adherence to active aging. He once said, "Life is like riding a bicycle. You don't fall off unless you stop peddling."
On a brisk, sunny morning in October, Kleman Plaza in Tallahassee, Florida, was filled with energetic, enthusiastic senior athletes. All over age 55, they were there to compete in the annual 3k Claude Pepper Senior Walk/Run. The event is sponsored by the Tallahassee Senior Center and the Claude Pepper Foundation. More than 15 volunteers were also present to monitor the course, provide water as runners and walkers passed, and to provide much appreciated massages after the event.
The female winner was Perha Varley, of Tallahassee, who ran the 3k course in 14 minutes and 57 seconds. The make winner was 60 year old Dennis Barton, also of Tallahassee. Mr. Barton completed the run in 10 minutes and 59 seconds. Each of these winners received a prize of $125.00 and heart-warming accolades.
United HomeCare Services Sixth Annual Claude Pepper Memorial Award
United HomeCare Services, located in Miami, Florida, annually honors the memory of Senator Pepper through their awards program. Jose R. Fox, President and CEO, commented, "Our world is richer because of individuals such as the late Honorable Claude Pepper, and it gives us a great pleasure to continue recognizing his dedicated service and keeping his memory alive. Having served as both a Senator and Congressman, Pepper was one of the first to fight for improving the availability of long-term home care."
This event provides an opportunity to honor extraordinary individuals and community corporations who have followed in Senator Pepper's footsteps, dedicating their lives and mission to preserving the dignity and well being of the elderly and disabled. Just like Senator Pepper, these individuals have touched and enriched the lives of so many people with their compassion and goodwill. These honorees also share the mission of United HomeCare Services "to provide a specialized range of services to assist individuals to remain at home independently."
Five awards were presented in 2000: Florida Senator Mario Diaz-Balart received the Public Service Award for his efforts as a tireless public servant and effective leader. Athalie Range, who is known as the "political matriarch" of the African American community and a prominent businesswoman, was presented the Community Service Award. The Volunteer Service Award went to Dr. Ramona Frischman for her role in initiating and implementing intergenerational programs for Miami-Dade County public schools. The Miami Herald's Wish Book received the Corporate Service Award and the Miami-Dade Police Department's Police Athletic League received the Intergenerational Service Award.
Frances Campbell, President of the Claude Pepper Foundation, assisted in presenting the awards. She was accompanied by Dr. Bernard Sliger, Treasurer of the Foundation and Past President of Florida State University. The 2000 annual dinner was held at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida, and was attended by more than 250 guests.
Claude Pepper Award for Excellence in Community-based Long-Term Care
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is a dynamic center of leadership and nationwide expertise in the issues of aging. This organization's mission mirrors the lifelong dedication of Senator Pepper: "to promoting the dignity, self-determination, well-being, and contributions of older persons and to enhancing the field of aging through leadership and service, education and advocacy..."
Since 1994, the Pepper Foundation has supported financially and participated in the presentation of the Claude Pepper Award for Excellence in Community-based Long-Term Care. This award recognizes individuals in the field who have shown true leadership and made special significant contributions in the development of a continuum of services that enable older people to live at home with dignity, independence and autonomy for as long as they are able.
The 2000 recipient was Dr. Rose Dobrof, DSW, of the Brookdale Center on Aging of Hunter College in New York, New York, who was recognized for her contributions over more than 50 years to the field of aging. She received the award at NCOA's celebration of its 50th Annual Conference on March 30, 2000. The theme of the conference was "Vital Aging." Professor Dobrof is a nationally renowned expert in the field of aging, and has helped make the Brookdale Center a leading research, education and clinical center. The Center has a significant and positive impact on community based services.
The Diaries of Claude Denson Pepper
Among the archival materials in the Claude Pepper Library are the personal diaries kept by Senator Pepper over a period of fifty years. As chronicles, travel impressions, confessions, opinions, these diaries represent the private and public life of a man who recorded his experiences almost daily.
The diaries are in the process of being edited and will be made available to the public. They will be annotated to enhance the portrayal and accomplishments of Pepper and provide the reader with the necessary information about persons and events. The Foundation has provided a grant of $51,817 for this project, which is headed by Dr. Fred L. Standley, who is the Daisy Parker Flory Professor of English at Florida State University. Dr. Standley has an outstanding background in education, teaching, lecturing and writing, which uniquely qualifies him for this task. A volume of the finished work will be published.
Research Support in the Claude Pepper Center
The Claude Pepper Museum in the Pepper Center contains an exhibit that portrays Senator Pepper being hanged in effigy. It exposes many young visitors to the museum to the history of Senator Pepper's impact on the events surrounding World War II. Pepper, a United States Senator in 1940, sat on the Foreign Relations Committee and, at one time, was the sole proponent on that committee of aid to the allies.
Ms. Joan E. Denman, a graduate student in History at Florida State University, engaged in research in the Pepper collection during 2000. It resulted in an excellent paper that illuminated Senator Pepper's role in conscription and aid to Britain. So excellent was Ms. Denman's paper that she was invited to present at the 2000 World War II Conference at Siena College in New York.
She wrote: "Claude D. Pepper, as a young United States Senator from Florida during 1938-1940, served as one of the most vocal advocates for conscription and aid to Britain...Pepper's aggressiveness in promoting his belief brought public attention to interventionist ideas. It also put him in the national spotlight as he faced the wrath of isolationists, the highpoint being when the right-wing Congress of American Mothers hung him in effigy in August 1940."
The Pepper Foundation encourages research in the collection housed at the Pepper Center in Tallahassee. It believes that there is much to be learned from it, not only about Senator Pepper's role in political issues and world affairs that spanned most of the last century, but about the history of the United States.