City Manager's Office
City Manager
Wes Hare
The City Manager's Office oversees general administration of the City of Albany and provides support to the City Council and to City departments. Some key administrative tasks include carrying out the Council's policies, preparing the City budget, directing the City's daily operations, coordinating departments, and informing the Council. In addition, the City Attorney reports to the City Manager. The City Attorney provides legal counsel to city officials, departments, commissions, and boards and also prepares legal documents, ordinances, and resolutions concerning city business and represents the city in litigation.
This week's message
May 9, 2008
A Great Marine; A Great Duck; A Great Friend
The office next to mine is unoccupied now, although it’s filled with memories of a good friend. Models and pictures of Marine Corps jet fighters compete for attention with University of Oregon memorabilia. Family pictures are placed closest to the desk. Our offices and cubicles tell stories about our lives, and Dick Ebbert’s is no exception.
Our organization is large enough that we often don’t know colleagues who work in different departments or buildings. I feel really lucky for the opportunity to have worked next to Dick for the past three years. The jet models, plaques, and a large book entitled “The Marines” next to his desk were clues that I discovered soon after my arrival in Albany that Dick might have been a Marine aviator. I also learned that he served two tours in Vietnam. Since I was once a Navy journalist, I decided to test Dick by telling a few of my favorite Marine jokes. He accepted them with good humor and, not surprisingly, related a few sailor stories in reply. I never admitted this to Dick and will deny it if confronted by other Marines, but I wanted to be a Marine when I was a child. My father was a naval officer, and I grew up around Marines who impressed me with their appearance and discipline. Dick was the kind of Marine who inspired me, and he embodied all the best of the Corps. He was smart, tough, reliable, disciplined, and courageous in defense of high ideals and principles. Dick brought all these qualities to his work at the City, earning him the respect of people throughout the community.
I think everyone who reads these columns realizes by now that I attended the University of Oregon. Despite my background, I have no biases in favor of fellow Ducks and certainly no prejudices against Beavers. The fact that Dick also graduated from the U of O is simply another example of his great judgment and character. We would celebrate and sulk together on Monday mornings during football season, and it seems like we did a fair amount of both over the past three years. As with the military jokes we shared, we had some fun with our Duck affiliation; but there was also a serious side to our allegiance. The University of Oregon represented for us, just as Oregon State represents for Beavers, a positive influence in our lives that allowed us to grow as people. It’s a common bond that transcends rationality, as evidenced by people painting themselves green and yellow at athletic contests. Dick wasn’t that kind of Duck, but he was grateful to the University and represented it with honor.
Friendship takes many forms in my life. I have friends I’ve known for 40 years or more and friends I’ve just met. I only knew Dick for three years; but during that brief time, I never had reason to worry about any task that he undertook or any promise that he made. Dick was, in short, the best kind of friend. He gave freely and asked very little in return. Dick’s modesty and work ethic were sometimes taken to extremes. He never sought recognition, and we had a hard time getting information about him that will be included on the new aircraft static display at the airport. The pilots who are working on the display will have Dick’s call sign from his Marine days painted on the lead aircraft in recognition of his many contributions to Albany. Just before my last visit with Dick, his daughter told me he was worried about finishing some tasks at work. She told him it was time to rest, but he still had to tell me about a couple of work issues as we talked. I miss Dick Ebbert, but I’m grateful for the chance I had to know him and for the example he set. Semper Fi, and Go Ducks!
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