Ekrem Orhon

Ekrem Orhon was born in 1911 in the village of Bürücek, located in the Derepazarı district of Rize. After completing his primary and secondary education in Rize, he graduated from Robert College. In 1936, he earned the title of civil engineer from the University of Illinois in the United States and returned to Turkey. Until 1948, he worked as a construction contractor and between 1948 and 1951, he held various positions at the 10th Regional Directorate of Highways. From 1951 to 1963, he worked as a freelance engineer.

Mayoral Terms

Orhon was elected as the Mayor of Rize in 1963 and served in this role until 1973. Following the military coup of September 12, 1980, he was reappointed as mayor and remained in office until his death in 1983.

Urban Transformation and Infrastructure Projects

One of Ekrem Orhon’s most notable projects was the expansion of Rize through land reclamation from the sea. Aiming to create new living spaces by filling in coastal areas due to the city's limited land availability, Orhon significantly transformed Rize’s landscape with this initiative. He also led major infrastructure projects such as the Rize–İspir road and the Rize Port.

Personal Life and Legacy

Nicknamed "Baba Reis," Ekrem Orhon was known for his modest lifestyle. He owned no property registered in the land registry and possessed a Renault 12 TS car, which he requested be sold to cover his burial expenses. Completely devoted to Rize, Orhon passed away on August 9, 1983, in Erzurum and was buried at Rize Castle.

Commemoration and Works

To honor Ekrem Orhon’s memory, his daughter Çayhan Orhon Dervişoğlu and Fatih Sultan Kar prepared a book titled A Tribute to Ekrem Orhon, which was published by the Rize Municipality.