It was nearly 30 years ago that Ed Rasmuson recruited me to be his partner in the creation of what is now the largest philanthropy in Alaska.

"It's yours if you want it," is how he put his offer that I become the only employee of his small family foundation - a foundation that now is approaching a billion-dollar responsibility to use his father's fortune - and much of his own - to repay his beloved Alaska for the opportunities it offered his family.

I believe that we - and our dedicated, talented staff - have over the years realized much of the dream, almost always in collaboration with co-...