---
title: REMEMBERING A LEADER
description: Capital Campaign Consulting, Endowment/Planned Giving Consulting, Annual Campaign Consulting, Grantwriting, Training, Donor Research, Communications.
---

[DBD Group Blog ](https://www.dbd.group/blog)

# [REMEMBERING A LEADER](https://www.dbd.group/blog/remembering-a-leader)

 Written by [Danny Maier](https://www.dbd.group/blog/author/danny-maier) | Oct. 9, 2014

In July, a mentor in my life died: Senator Alan J. Dixon. A moderate Democrat from Southern Illinois, **he would remind me that I never “worked for Senator Dixon.” Rather, I “worked with Senator Dixon and for the people of Illinois.”**  His opponents dubbed him “Al the Pal” in an attempt to link him with typical Illinois political cronyism.

He laughed and had campaign buttons made that read: “I’m Al’s Pal.”

He had a dedication to serving others that was infectious and inspiring. We worked with fellow Democrats, Republicans, Independents – Senator Dixon was a true statesman.

He was good friends with Ted Kennedy and Vice President Dan Quayle. When asked his political affiliation, he once responded: “Human.”

Every morning, he opened a card catalog on his desk and began calling everyone on their birthday – January 1st through December 31st.   My last day working “with” Senator Dixon was in June of 1988. He left the U.S. Senate in 1993. Yet every year, without fail, I got a phone call on my birthday. I will miss that call.

I just started my own card catalog. Shame on me for not learning his lesson in stewardship much earlier. Happy birthday Senator. I owe you far too many calls.

Senator Dixon and Dan Maier in 1986.

[View full post](https://www.dbd.group/blog/remembering-a-leader)

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