[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 111 (Tuesday, July 5, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E691-E692]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   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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