RICHARD CORDER, Retired Police Sergeant with the San Clemente Police Department and Orange County Sheriff’s Department
Thank you, Rod, for faithfully serving the city of San Clemente for 56 years. This community owes so much gratitude and appreciation to you. Thank you for your dedication that helped so many. You served as a Reserve Police Officer with the San Clemente Police Department from 1964 to 1978.
You contributed and assisted with so many organizations and charity events within the city, such as the Marine Corps League, the Military BBQ at Rick Steed Park attended by 5,000 Marines and their families, and organizing the first Cinco de Mayo event, working the event and serving as a board member for 16 years.
You were always there for San Clemente, helping organize community functions such as the first Memorial Day Ceremony, the La Cristianita Pageant, the Del Mar Street Festival, the Community Pride Day.
You organized the adoption of the 2/4 Marine Battalion. You put on Marine barbecues for Marine battalions shipping out and shipping in. You assisted with the Kiwanis Club pancake breakfast. You helped feed military members and their families at the Community Center.
In addition to your involvement with the military, you found it in your heart to reach out to the youth of our community, serving as a Boys and Girls Club board member. You have also donated so many times to the local sports programs. You were involved in developing the Bonita and Linda Lane canyons into parks, as well as assisting with the construction of the Boys and Girls Club.
Thank you, Rod, for opening Rod’s Tree Service in 1965. You provided excellent quality tree service to the city. You provided jobs to approximately 60 San Clemente locals, including several SCPD officers working on their days off.
You planted 70% of the palm trees that line El Camino Real, the beaches, parks and parking lots. Your response to the great storms of early 1980s and 1990s helped the city immensely. Your rapid response every time I called you in the middle of the night for vehicle accidents involving trees or downed trees due to high winds was so appreciated.
A special thank you to your wonderful wife, Gloria, and your three grandsons, Ricky, Matt and Jason. They are the backbone of Rod’s Tree Service.
