John S. Volpe served as superintendant of the Underground Distribution Department at Portland General Electric (known originally as Portland Electric Power Company [PEPCO]) from the early 1920s through his retirement in 1952. He was in charge of the first electrical cable submerged under the Willamette River, hooking the west side to the east side, completed in April 1945, as well as many subsequent submerged cables.
Mr. Volpe received a 1927 commendation letter from the president of PEPCO, likely given for month-long management of a cable failure and fire and subsequent massive repairs on Sept. 6, 1927 (see newspaper clipping file). He also received honors in 1951, close to his retirement, for “pioneering work in the engineering and operating field as superintendant of PGE’s underground distribution system.” For this he was given lifetime membership in the Northwest Electric Light and Power association.
From the guide to the John S. Volpe photographs collection, 1917-1952, (Oregon Historical Society Research Library)
