Peter M. Tripp (Tripodes) (1911-1996): Businessman; City Councilmember; Oakland Port Commissioner

Peter Tripp and Grave Marker

Plot 5

Peter M. Tripp, born in Pyrgos, Greece, in 1911 and brought to Oakland as a child in 1914, was a dynamic public servant and civic leader whose career spanned athletics, business, and decades of political engagement. Legally shortening his name from Tripodes, Tripp left an indelible mark on Oakland as a two-term City Councilman and serving in the Board of Port Commissioners from 1959-1975, including three stints as President.

Before entering public life, Tripp had careers as a middleweight boxer and professional wrestler in the 1930s. He later founded the Peter Tripp Insurance Agency and became one of Oakland’s most recognized Greek-American business figures. His wife, Lois Poulos Tripp, whom he married in 1942, and their daughter Lois Gail Tripp Harpham were central to his life.

Tripp served on the Oakland City Council from 1951-1959 including a term as Vice Mayor. He chaired several influential committees, including a health department consolidation task force that saved the city $800,000 and the capital improvement committee responsible for the successful bond issue of 1958. He also led efforts to launch construction of the Alameda County Hall of Justice.

Easter Seals Campaign

Tripp retired from the Council in 1959 but was appointed to the Oakland Port Commission two years later. In 1961, he stirred controversy by proposing that all five Port Commissioners—including himself—resign so the newly elected Mayor John C. Houlihan could appoint a fresh board after the city changed who the mayor was selected. Although his motion failed, the bold move highlighted his commitment to reform and democratic governance.

Known for his independence and outspokenness, Tripp did not shy away from challenging colleagues. In 1962, he exposed conflicts of interest on the Port Commission, prompting Mayor Houlihan to demand corrective action. He clashed with fellow Councilmembers and Port Commissioners alike, including public arguments with Councilman Robert Osborne and a fiery exchange over being misaddressed by his birth name.

Under Tripp’s leadership, the Port of Oakland experienced extraordinary growth. When he joined, the port’s gross income was $3.9 million; by the time he stepped down in 1975, it exceeded $20 million. He championed containerization, international trade with Japan, and regional cooperation. In 1972, he advocated limiting the size of Oakland International Airport to avoid the unchecked sprawl of cities like Los Angeles, emphasizing quality of life over expansion.

(L-R) Floyd Olson, Vice Mayor Peter Tripp, Henry Worthington and George Warn

Tripp was a consistent voice for regionalism, urging collaboration between East Bay cities to streamline port operations and development. He also formed a citizen advisory committee to examine the ecological importance of San Leandro Bay’s mudflats, only to later criticize it for lacking business acumen.

His legacy includes championing bold ideas ahead of their time—like naming Oakland’s airport “Golden Gate International” to compete with San Francisco, and opposing entrenched business interests in the produce industry. Known for a sharp tongue and passionate advocacy, he also cultivated a softer public image later in life, emphasizing family, philanthropy, and his Greek heritage. A past master of the Plymouth Masonic Lodge and active member of Oakland’s Scottish Rite Bodies, Tripp remained an influential civic figure into retirement.

By the time he left public life, Peter Tripp had helped transform the Port of Oakland into the West Coast’s leading container shipping hub—second only to New York in the U.S. and third worldwide.