Legislation to honor the late mayor of Bucoda by renaming the town’s post office in his honor will now head to President Joe Biden’s desk for final approval.

Spearheaded by Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, the proposal cleared the Senate after the House of Representatives approved the legislation earlier this month.

With the support of the Thurston County commissioners, the entire Washington state delegation, and the Bucoda Town Council, Gluesenkamp Perez introduced legislation in August to rename the town’s post office after former Mayor Rob Gordon, who died in June.

Gordon, who also served as the Bucoda Fire Department’s assistant chief and had worked as a firefighter since just before his 16th birthday, died on June 3, nearly eight months after he announced his diagnosis of stage 4 stomach cancer.

Rob Gordon is survived by his wife, Miriam Gordon, and their two children, Jakob and Anna Gordon. Miriam Gordon now serves on the Bucoda Town Council.

The five members of the Thurston County Commission wrote a letter of support for the efforts, writing that “as a lifelong volunteer firefighter for the Town of Bucoda, Mayor Gordon served his community and protected the safety of his fellow Bucoda residents. As a town council member and then as mayor, he was a strong advocate for his community and fought hard to ensure that the town of 587 people was not forgotten about.”

In the letter, the commissioners added, “If there is anyone who is worthy of this recognition, it is Mayor Gordon. … We cannot wait to see this become a law and Mayor Gordon receives this long-lasting recognition.”

In a statement Thursday, Gluesenkamp Perez said Rob Gordon was the “epitome of a servant leader, with an incredible work ethic and impact on our community that cannot be understated.”

“He represents the best of Southwest Washington — serving as a firefighter since the age of 16, maintaining his haul trucks himself, and passing on important skills and values to his children,” Gluesenkamp Perez said.