The publication is reproduced in full below:
COMMEMORATING THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF GRANITE CONSTRUCTION
COMPANY
______
HON. JOHN GARAMENDI
of california
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, July 5, 2022
Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and lasting contributions of Robert Ikeda. Robert Kimihiko ``Bob'' Ikeda, born July 5, 1934, in the Japanese-American fishing community of Terminal Island in Los Angeles County, CA to Kameichi and Hayako
(Yuoka) Ikeda, passed away on November 24, 2020. He was preceded in death by his eldest son, Patrick Ikeda, sister Sumiko ``Sumy,'' and brother-in-law Don Anhorn. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Gladys, whom he met while they both attended UC Berkeley. Other survivors include son Steve and daughter-in-law Kathy Ikeda, grandchildren Justin and Andrea, daughter-in-law Terrilynne Ikeda, step-grandchildren Calvin and Samantha, sister Shizuka ``Margaret'' Kono and husband Ryoichiro, brother Nobuhiko ``Noby'' Ikeda and wife Susie, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Bob--a U.S. born citizen--was incarcerated as an ``enemy non-alien'' at the age of seven in 1942, along with the rest of his family and 120,000 other Japanese and Japanese Americans who had been living along the west coast. They remained confined under military armed guard for the duration of World War II, first at Jerome and Rohwer in Arkansas, and then at Tule Lake Segregation Center in California. The Ikeda family settled outside Lodi after their release in early 1946. He attended area schools and graduated from Lodi High School.
Bob was a veteran of the United States Army and was proud to receive a Top-Secret security clearance as a soldier, which came from the same government that wrongly deemed him a national security risk during his childhood. When he was stationed in Germany, he used that clearance while analyzing aerial intelligence photos taken during the Cold War, some of which were among the first taken by the U2 spy plane.
After being honorably discharged from the Army, Bob resumed his career with the Department of Public Works, Division of Highways (which became Caltrans), where he was the State's first licensed traffic engineer. He spent his 42-year career with the Caltrans Stockton office, at first on construction crews, and later in Traffic Management. As the Chief of Traffic Management, Bob was the de facto traffic engineer for numerous smaller cities throughout the district.
While he was incarcerated at Tule Lake, Bob began studying judo, a sport he later introduced to his sons. He eventually was promoted by the United States Judo Federation to third-degree black belt and spent several years teaching an afternoon judo program at Stockton Judo Club.
Bob had a lifelong passion for cars, starting even before he received his first junior operator permit at age 12. He purchased his first Porsche in 1961 and owned several throughout his life; he even put a Porsche engine in a Volkswagen bus. He shared his passion for cars with Clyde Wilbourn, who came into his life as his mechanic, but soon became a valued and long-time friend. Bob enjoyed autocrossing and rallying competitively as well as taking cross-country driving vacations and meandering drives to destinations unknown even to him. His connection to Porsche was strengthened by his lifelong membership in the Porsche Club of America.
Although Bob lost his appetite toward the end, anyone who knows him will not be surprised by his last meal: a bowl of vanilla ice cream with a dollop of whipped cream.
The family plans a post-pandemic memorial observance. Donations in Bob's memory may be made to the Tule Lake Committee, the Stockton/San Joaquin Emergency Food Bank, St. Mary's Dining Room, or a charity of choice.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 111(1), Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 111(2)
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