Richard Gustafson – 50th Reunion Essay

Richard Gustafson

1620 NE Broadway #616

Portland, OR 97232

rgustafson@sojpdx.com

503-969-4181

Spouse(s): Susan Gustafson

Child(ren): Julie Gustafson (1976), Erik Gustafson (1981)

Education: Wayne State University, MA Urban Economics; Portland State University, ABD, Urban Studies

Career: Elected to Oregon House, Elected Executive, Portland Metro, Project Manager developed streetcars around the country.

Avocations: Travel, wine tasting.

College: Branford

I came to Yale from Portland, Oregon, where I attended a public high school. The experience at Yale was exceptional. I studied economics, managed the campus delivery business, was a national roller skating champion while attending Yale. I developed a love for New England and live theater at Yale and in New York.

After graduating, I attended Carnegie Mellon University for two months before accepting a job at GM Research in Transportation. While at GM, I met and married Susan Canty. I worked with her father in the Transportation Research Department. She attended Michigan State University.

I conducted research on travel behavior and urban dynamics. After four years of research, we decided to move to Portland to run for the Oregon House of Representatives. I was elected in 1974. In 1978, the Portland region formed an elected regional government and I ran for the Executive Officer position and was elected and served for eight years helping to formulate the first elected regional government in the US.

I joined a project management team in Portland and managed all sorts of projects through 30 years. I worked with a lot of agricultural products developing an agricultural marketing center in Portland, Seafood Research Laboratory, and a major botanical garden. I served on the State Board of Agriculture for 8 years.

My transportation interest continued as I was executive officer for Metro when the first light-rail line was built in Portland in 1986. As a private consultant, I participated in the development of the Portland Streetcar (rail transit) which opened in 2001. I was contracted to run the operation for 13 years. In addition, I worked with many cities in the country that were exploring the potential of adding streetcars, including New Haven. I have participated in the development of streetcars around the US in Portland, Seattle, D.C., Atlanta, Kansas City, Detroit, Oklahoma City and Santa Ana.

Susan and I have two children. My daughter, Julie, is the executive director of the Pearl District Business Association in Portland. My son, Erik, is a classical tenor and performs with numerous groups around the country.

My experience at Yale was perfect for me. I gained the confidence in my ability to think at Yale thanks to access to top professors in their field. I have never forgotten the wisdom of people like Vincent Scully and Eric Segal who had enormous influence on me.