April 27, 2004 > Pantages Receives Vince Dunham Award

Fremont resident Dick Pantages was recently awarded the Vince Dunham Memorial Award by the California Environmental Health Association (CEHA) at their annual educational symposium in Pasadena, CA. The Vince Dunham Award is awarded each year to an individual who has demonstrated exceptional career performance in the field of environmental health through their professional work and service to CEHA.

Dick Pantages served as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist in the Alameda County Department of Environmental Health for over 35 years. He retired in 2001, and has continued to serve his profession in the California and National Environmental Health Associations during his retirement. His professional achievements include developing the program and facilities for the Alameda County's Household Hazardous Waste Facilities; establishing and developing the Alameda County Office of Solid Waste Management, which included acting as the Local Enforcement Agency for the County; serving as Assistant Director in the Alameda County Department of Environmental Health overseeing the County's Administration/Finance, Vector Control, Solid/Medical Waste Management, and Information Technology programs; and serving on the boards of directors and various committees for the California and National Environmental Health Associations. The Solid Waste and Household Hazardous Waste programs have received awards and national recognition over the years.

Pantages also serves the community in Fremont on the Fremont Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors and the Fremont Cultural Arts Council.

Letters of recommendation and support for Pantages' nomination for the Vince Dunham Award consistently praised Pantages for his professional expertise, commitment, hard work, leadership in establishing and carrying out new programs in the field of environmental health, in addition to noting his dedication and sense of humor that he has brought to his professional activities and organizations.

Pantages noted, "it is important that the public be aware of the hard work, commitment and professional achievement of the many public service people who work for our cities and counties in California. This award is just one way of recognizing one person's career achievement; this kind of performance goes on every year by thousands of public employees in our area. I'm honored to be recognized with the Vince Dunham Award of the California Environmental Health Association."

The Vince Dunham Award is given in memory of Vince Dunham, who was a pioneer environmental health specialist who worked in Santa Clara County, and was president of the California Environmental Health Association in 1961-1962.