Mike Fox didn’t plan on spending his retirement focused on an aging bridge from his childhood memories. He had recently retired from an impressive 45-year engineering career, travelling the globe working on large scale projects, much like the one the Port of Hood River was facing with the needed replacement of the Hood River White Salmon Interstate Bridge. Returning to the Hood River Valley, where his family has deep roots, Mike Fox wanted to find a way to positively impact the community he loved, and with his engineering skillset, he realized that serving as a Port Commissioner could be the right fit. Securing the Position #3 seat on the Port of Hood River Commission in 2021, Commissioner Fox faced the bridge problem head on- advocating for renewed replacement efforts as well as focusing on a fiscally sustainable Port in a future without revenue from bridge tolls.

In his four-year term, Commissioner Fox helped to gain incredible traction in the bridge replacement project. In 2023 the Hood River White Salmon Bridge Authority was launched, a new bi-state group that would take over the replacement efforts from the Port and focus on working with both sides of the river to secure funding, design and leadership. Representing the Port of Hood River on the Board, Commissioner Fox would soon become co-chair of the HRWSBA, providing representation from Oregon side. At the beginning of his term, the bridge replacement effort had a few million dollars towards the project, and by July 2025, the replacement efforts had attracted well over $450 million dollars in funding, with potentially more on the way. Commissioner Fox has dedicated hours to both the Port of Hood River, and the HRWSBA to bring renewed hope for a new bridge, and he finds the hours spent, well worth it, “I’m pretty sure I’ve spent more than 6,000 hours during the past 4 years pushing efforts to get the bridge replaced. And I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”

With replacement efforts well underway, Commissioner Fox feels he can leave the HRWSBA in good hands, with volunteers that are passionate about keeping the communities of the gorge safely connected. And in his four years at the Port, Commissioner Fox has welcomed a new Executive Director, celebrated a new robust financial reporting system, celebrated the Bridge Centennial, and advocated for a Commission focused on a fiscally sustainable Port, with a future focused on the positive economic impact it brings to the community. It is with much thanks that the Port of Hood River bids farewell to Commissioner Fox and wishes him all the best as he steps back into retired life. And to the Port, Commissioner Fox “wishes both the Port of Hood River as well as the Hood River White Salmon Bridge Authority much success in the future and am absolutely certain that it will be a bright one!!”

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