SALEM, OR -- State lawmakers unanimously approved a resolution this week, thanking a local veterans advocate for his ongoing work. 

"This honors an amazing Oregonian: Dick Tobiason," Senator Tim Knopp (R-Bend) said during his floor speech, Wednesday, noting the importance of honoring key Oregonians while they're still alive. "I think it’s great that we’re honoring Dick for all his efforts to honor veterans over the last 20 years. He’s basically spent his retirement honoring veterans and the veteran community." Earlier in the session, Tobiason spoke to a legislative committee about the resolution. 

He served two tours in Vietnam and received the Purple Heart. "His second tour was in 1972 and ‘73," said Knopp, "And he was an advisor to the South Vietnamese government." After retiring from NASA, Tobiason created the nonprofit Bend Heroes Foundation. "He’s helped adopt many laws, honoring nearly half a million Oregon veterans who have served during WWI, WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War and the Afghanistan and Iraq War."

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Tobiason is largely responsible for the designations of highways around the state honoring vets from various conflicts. And, was a driving force behind Highway 20’s designation as the national Medal of Honor Highway, "It wasn’t enough just to have these honors for Oregon, and he stretched across the United States, honoring veterans on a major highway." Knopp added, "Dick is also responsible for getting things going as it relates to housing for veterans, Central Oregon Veterans Village. It’s a rest village that helps homeless veterans that we want to get to permanent housing and stable employment."

File photo: Dick Tobiason at a 2023 ceremony