Mack
Strong proudly says he had no problem convincing several of his teammates to
attend a fundraiser for his mother, Rose Strong, who is a candidate for
Washington State Republic Party Chair, at Mack’s home.Mack
Strong proudly says he had no problem convincing several of his teammates to
attend a fundraiser for his mother, Rose Strong, who is a candidate for
Washington State Republic Party Chair, at Mack’s home.
“These are guys who care deeply about the future of the party and of the state,” Mack said. “They know my mother and respect her. And I’m really grateful they took some precious off time during the season to help.”
The highlight of the fundraiser on Monday was when quarterback Matt Hasselbeck bid on and won Strong’s signed jersey. Hasselbeck proudly teased Strong for the rest of the evening and posed for photographs with attendees.
Those Seahawks attending included Strong, Hasselbeck, center Robbie Tobeck and wide receiver Darrell Jackson.
Mack’s mother was the first Republican woman and first black woman elected to the City Council in Columbus, Georgia, and has a long record of political activity. Rose Strong was elected as an At-Large Delegate to the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City, served as the African American Coalition Chair for Bush-Cheney in Washington state, and presently serves as co-chair for the King County Republican Minority Outreach Project. During the recent election, she conducted voter registration drives with local churches and get out the vote effort; galvanized support among African American pastors for Bush-Cheney; and assisted in fundraising with NFL players for the Dino Rossi for governor and Rob McKenna for Attorney General campaigns.
Strong served President George H.W. Bush at the U.S. Department of Transportation as the Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs.
Strong began her career in 1973 by volunteering her time on various local, state and national campaigns in Georgia. In 1979, she was elected as Vice Chairwoman for the Georgia State Republican Party. In 1984, she was elected to the council in Columbus Georgia, where she served until 1988. Strong went on to be part of the Bush Presidential transition team, and serve on the Bush/Quayle re-election campaign 1992 and the 2000 Bush/Cheney Campaign in the Coalitions Division at the Republican National Committee in Washington, DC. She also served on the Bush/Cheney Presidential Inaugural committee. Rose co-founded the Black Republican Women International.
Rose has two adult children in the area: Mack Strong, starting fullback for the Seattle Seahawks, who is married to Zoe Higheagle Strong, and daughter Rozalyn Strong, a Redmond Elementary math teacher. Strong is also the proud grandmother of two grandsons, Isaiah Anthony and Evan James Strong.