Charles A. Wood, Jr.
Vice President for University Advancement, Radford University
P.O. Box 6900, Radford, Virginia 24142

During a recent ceremony at Radford University, Radford, Virginia, Bro. George E. Dewese, 32°, K.C.C.H., and his wife, Matsue, accepted the University's Lifetime Achievement Award from Charles A. Wood, Jr., Radford University's Vice President for Advancement.
Photo: Lora L. Gordon, Radford University

The Lifetime Achievement Award was created by the Radford University Foundation to recognize and honor extraordinary service to Radford University. Tonight, I am privileged to present the eighth award to an extraordinary, non-assuming couple that has transformed lives and programs at Radford University (RU).

This couple's life story spans the globe, speaks to the true American work ethic, and comes full circle to illustrate how unselfish generosity can transform lives and human spirits through educational opportunity.

They met while he was stationed in Japan with the Army Corps of Engineers and Signal Corps. He wanted to return to Virginia to begin a new life together in Montgomery County. They both found productive and fulfilling jobs at General Electric in Salem, Virginia. He worked in electronic testing, and she was an assembler until their retirements.

Next begins a story of true generosity and amazing commitment to educational goals and student opportunity. In 1997, this couple committed to establishing an endowed scholarship at Radford University to assist students from Montgomery County. They chose to endow a scholarship for students from Montgomery County with preference to those from Eastern Montgomery, formerly Shawsville High School, and from Auburn High School.

Their motivation for establishing the scholarship was a desire to provide local students with an opportunity to attend college, an opportunity unavailable to these two in their youth.

But the story doesn't end there. They created a second RU scholarship in his parents' names to benefit students from Alleghany County and Covington High School. Again, their interest was to provide scholarships that would assist students of scarce resources but with demonstrated college ability.

They later created another scholarship in their names to support the communication sciences and disorders program and enhance the mission of the RU clinics. The George Everett and Matsue Yamazaki Dewese Scottish Rite Graduate Fellowship Endowment brings together a long-standing tradition of charitable giving and community involvement for the Deweses.

Most recently, the couple established a charitable remainder trust through the Scottish Rite Foundation, Southern Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite, to benefit RU students. The George Everett Dewese and Matsue Yamazaki Dewese Charitable Trust will provide Scottish Rite scholarships at RU for members of the DeMolay and Rainbow Girls and for descendants of Scottish Rite Masons.

The support of George and Matsue Dewese extends beyond scholarships. They have led a campaign to establish a playground on the RU campus for the children who are clients of the RU Clinics for the Waldron College of Health and Human Services. They have also leveraged support for gifts from others for the PACES Mobile Unit, which provides RiteCare Program diagnostic and clinical services, as well as other university priorities.

For George and Matsue Dewese generosity has come to them from their upbringing. George credits his father's role as a hard worker who gave what he could to those in need. George and Matsue have found great pleasure in helping young people gain an education that will help their own communities.

What is also inspiring is their dedication and sincere interest in the future of the students who benefit from their scholarships and in Radford University. It's not unusual to get a phone call, or several a day, from George Dewese. He has ideas on involving students, creating new partnerships, and promoting scholarships.

George Everett Dewese, 32°, K.C.C.H., is a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Roanoke and a former member of the Scottish Rite Tokyo, Japan, Valley of Tokyo. He supports and upholds the Scottish Rite's ideals. The couple was recently honored as "Supreme Temple Architects" and "Pillars of Charity" at the House of the Temple, the jurisdictional headquarters of the Scottish Rite, S.J., in Washington, D.C. An original oil portrait by noted portraitist Jean Pilk of George [see front cover] has been received in the Hall of Honor of the Temple in recognition of his generosity and continuous work to create opportunities for students through the Scottish Rite.

Tonight, Radford University turns its spotlight on two amazing, kind, and generous people. I am privileged and honored to present the 2002 Lifetime Achievement Award to George and Matsue Dewese.

The above article is the text of comments made by Mr. Charles A. Wood, Jr., at the presentation of Radford University's Lifetime Achievement Award to Brother Dewese and his wife, Matsue, on October 11, 2002, during a ceremony in Muse Banquet Hall, Radford University.