[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 163 (Friday, October 14, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1041]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNITION OF RICHARD DODGE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 14, 2022

  Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise along with my colleague Anna Eshoo 
to honor Richard (Dick) Dodge upon his retirement from the Board of 
Port Commissioners of the Port of Redwood City after 42 years of 
service to the public. Dick is deeply dedicated to commerce and to the 
efficient operation of the port, a jewel on San Francisco Bay.
  Redwood City's port was first established in 1851 by timber 
harvesters seeking an efficient route to move redwood from the hills of 
the San Francisco Peninsula to a new and thriving city, San Francisco. 
Today, over two million tons of cargo typically moves via the port, 
annually. Located only 18 nautical miles from San Francisco, and 
qualifying as a deep-water facility, both liquid and dry cargo transit 
the docks. These shipments often consist of imported construction 
materials and metal destined for overseas recycling. Redwood City plays 
an important role in the orderly operation of the Port of Oakland, 
allowing shippers to obtain timely service for cargoes not otherwise 
amenable to being shipped to Oakland via containers.
  Dick Dodge was first appointed Commissioner in 1980. At the time of 
his retirement in July 2022, he was one of the longest-serving port 
commissioners in the United States. He is also the port's institutional 
memory and helped shape its Vision 2020 planning document. Through 
Vision 2020, the port committed to maximizing its value to the public 
by enhancing public access, preserving the environment, and upgrading 
its commercial facilities. Dick Dodge has long advocated for ferry 
service to Redwood City, and the plan reflects his vision. Before the 
pandemic, Google briefly tested ferry service to the port, and service 
is identified by the Water Emergency Transportation Authority as a 
future expansion opportunity. Deepening the channel so that it may 
handle larger vessels was also a priority for Dick. The United States 
Army Corps of Engineers continues to work on a determination of the 
cost of this important improvement.
  Over his 42 years of public service, Dick Dodge was past president of 
the Association of Pacific Ports, and he made numerous presentations 
before the American Association of Port Authorities. In the community, 
he served on the Board of Directors of Chamber San Mateo County, the 
Sequoia YMCA, the Redwood City Rotary Club, a bank advisory board, and 
the Water Emergency Transportation Authority's Technical Advisory 
Committee.
  Serving as a port commissioner is a volunteer position. In his 
professional life, Dick Dodge has owned T.H.E. Office City since 1976. 
It is one of the largest independent office products dealers in 
northern California. Before founding his own business, he worked for 
Airborne Express for 12 years. He has a business degree from the 
University of Southern California. He and his wife, Ginny, have three 
adult daughters, Kristine, Suzanne, and Michelle, and seven 
grandchildren.
  Madam Speaker, it is rare for busy people to volunteer for serious 
work. A port commissioner's job is certainly serious. The operations of 
the port are essential to many businesses and fill an important role in 
our regional economy. Dick Dodge and his fellow commissioners make 
multi-decade decisions to maximize the impact on commute patterns, 
recreational opportunities, commerce, and the environment. The people 
of Redwood City and the Peninsula were fortunate to have Dick at the 
dais for over four decades. We wish him well in the years ahead and 
thank him for his years of public service that will benefit all of us 
for decades yet to come.

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