Recognition of Richard Dodge

Floor Speech

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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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