‘Uncle Dave’ honored on his 90th birthday

David M. Sablan, center, is flanked by, from left, David Sablan Jr., Victoria Sablan Coleman, Patricia Sablan, and Stephen Sablan during Saturday’s celebration of his 90th birthday. (Contributed Photo)

Renowned business leader David M. Sablan—more popularly known throughout the islands as “Uncle Dave”—celebrated his 90th birthday last April 2 with over a hundred friends and family at the Kensington Hotel Saipan.

Sablan was especially honored at his birthday party with commemorative resolutions from both the CNMI Senate and the House of Representatives. The resolutions were presented by Sen. Edith De Leon Guerrero (D-Saipan) on behalf of the Senate and House Speaker Edmund Villagomez (Ind-Saipan) and vice speaker Blas Jonathan Attao (R-Saipan).

“Uncle Dave” has been a major contributor to the CNMI’s economy, having established business organizations such as the Rotary Club of Saipan and the Saipan Chamber of Commerce.

He started his business career with Atkins Kroll Guam in 1952 after graduating from George Washington High School in Guam. He eventually became the auto sales manager at Atkins Kroll. In 1960 he joined Bank of Hawaii when they first established in Guam. After Typhoon Karen devasted Guam in 1962, Atkins Kroll hired Sablan back to establish a branch of Atkins Kroll, San Francisco on Saipan to service the Northern Marianas and the Micronesian Islands. Later, that branch office of Atkins Kroll San Francisco was incorporated as Microl Corp., whereby Sablan became its first president and general manager. With the establishment of Microl Corp. and its relationship with Atkins Kroll, Microl became the distributor/dealer of General Motor vehicles and products, including the Holden automobile brand manufactured by General Motors Australia.

Microl Corp. became a major contributor to the Micronesian economy.

Throughout his nearly 40 years in business, Sablan served on many civic board and commissions, including serving on the board of the Marianas Visitors Bureau, which later became the Marianas Visitors Authority. Sablan served in various capacities on the board of the MVA, including vice chairman and chairman over the course of 18 years since 1976.

When he retired from Microl Corp. in 1986, Sablan moved to California with his family but later returned to serve in the Lorenzo Leon Guerrero Administration as chief budget officer. After his outstanding service with the CNMI government, Sablan retired from government service to join TanHoldings in 1993 as a senior business adviser to the TanHoldings Group. Sablan was instrumental in the growth of Century Insurance in both the CNMI and Guam, among other companies within the TanHoldings Group.

In 1968, Sablan established Pacific Micronesia Corp., the parent company that built Saipan Beach Inter-Continental Inn which, at that time, was affiliated with Pan American Airlines. The hotel was later purchased by the Dai Ichi Hotel Group.

In early 2000, Sablan negotiated the acquisition of the Dai Ichi Hotel both in Guam and on Saipan for TanHoldings. The two hotels became the Fiesta Resort Hotel & Spa.

In 1977, Sablan became the chairman of the fundraising effort to build the Kristo Rai Church in Garapan.

In 2015, Sablan authored a book titled A Degree of Success Through Curiosity published by Dorrance Publishing Company. According to Sablan, “This is an autobiography of my life, the legacy that I want to leave for my children, grand-children, and beyond.

“I am blessed by God to have reached this milestone age of 90 years and to see generations of my family grow to become successful and contributing members of our community throughout these Mariana Islands,” he said. (PR)