PORT TOWNSEND — Longtime Port of Port Townsend Commissioner Herb Beck was honored with a marina in his name Wednesday by his fellow commissioners.

They surprised him during a meeting by approving a resolution naming the Port’s Quilcene property “Herb Beck Marina and Industrial Park.”

“Commissioner Beck, with 32 years of service, is currently the longest sitting Port commissioner in the state of Washington,” states the resolution approved by Commissioners Bob Sokol and Conrad Pirner.

With a smile, Sokol on Monday suddenly asked Beck hand over the gavel and leave the Marina Room, where the commissioners meet at Point Hudson.

Sokol indicated that Beck had a conflict of interest in a matter about to be considered.

Beck obliged.

After the commissioners’ action, he returned and read the resolution, tearfully saying, “Oh, my goodness.”

After he regained his composure, he said: “All I can say is it’s quite an honor and I didn’t expect anything.”