Global Connections. Regional Roots. February 2018
To Create and Inspire Champions of Sustainable Forestry
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From Sara Wu, Interim Executive Director
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The World Forestry Center is more than just a museum, a tree farm, an international program, a rental facility, or one of the many events we put on each year. Since its inception, the World Forestry Center has always been a place to honor the importance that forestry plays in our lives, and the creation of our Leadership Hall is a lasting tribute to the men and women who played significant roles in advancing forestry.
It is always wonderful to hear from a descendant of someone honored in the Leadership Hall. A grandchild, a prior colleague, a student—someone whose life was touched by the honoree. We are reminded that these titans of forestry often had humble beginnings, had struggles, and overcame long odds and social barriers before finding success.
The value of the Leadership Hall, which was established in 1971, goes beyond mere remembrance. We pay tribute not just to the person, but also to the legacies they left the rest of us, measured in healthier forests, more green spaces, stronger economies and communities, and a collective can-do spirit that reaches across disciplines and political viewpoints. I am privileged to have known some of the individuals who grace the Leadership Hall, and can say that they have inspired me and others to follow their example to champion forestry in all its forms. I hope you will take time to enjoy this month’s Leadership Hall Spotlight below and
learn about the other inductees here
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Forestry Leadership Hall Spotlight
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In 1971, the World Forestry Center began a tradition of honoring those pioneers who have contributed significantly to the advancement of forestry. This month we are honored to spotlight Harry L. Wollenberg (1886-1979), Robert S. Wertheimer (1899-1957), and Richard P. Wollenberg (1915-2014). These gentlemen all committed themselves to the family business of Longview Fibre Company.
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In the summer of 1926, Longview Fibre Company (“Fibre” as it was known by locals) was created by Monroe A. Wertheimer (Robert S. Wertheimer’s father) and Harry L. Wollenberg (Richard P. Wollenberg’s father). With Harry’s comment to Monroe “if you ever need anything just whistle.” He did and Longview Fibre started.
“Fibre” began as a pulp and paper mill and over the next 80 years the founding families worked to expand the business employing 3,650 people at its peak, and looked to find ways to recycle before the term became fashionable. “Fibre” played a big role in the early expansion of the corrugated box business, replacing wooden boxes in many cases. Timberland acquisition began in 1943, and had expanded to 588,000 acres by the time of the company was sold in 2007. The timberlands were managed sustainably for logs sold to saw mills in Washington and Oregon.
Harry Wollenberg maintained his office in San Francisco to concentrate on building sales for the mill. During his tenure, the company grew from one machine making 100 tons of paperboard per day to eleven machines making 2,000 tons per day of paper and paperboard.
Monroe’s son, Robert S. Wertheimer, joined the business in 1927. After the mill’s construction was completed, Robert became Resident Manager, a title he held for the next 30 years. In December 1932, he was named Secretary-Treasurer and in 1940 he became Vice President. Robert was at the mill every day including the Sunday he died. Robert had a great capacity for understanding others and excelled in the area of labor relations. He had direct influence on the long record of successful industry-wide labor management relations in the Northwest pulp and paper industry. In the words of his daughter-in-law, Kay Wertheimer, married to his son Robert, “Everyone loved Robert. He was someone people always felt comfortable going to with a problem or question.” He was not a man who wanted or needed accolades, rather, he just enjoyed working hard at the task at hand. This was his formula for happiness.
Harry’s son, Richard P. “Dick” Wollenberg went to work for Longview Fibre in 1939 where he spent his entire career. His only time away from the company was from 1941-1945, when he served as an officer in the U.S. Army Air Corps, being honorably discharged as a Lieutenant Colonel. He began as a Safety Engineer moving up through the company and in 1969 he became President. In 1978 he was appointed CEO and in 1985 he was named Chairman of the Board of Directors. Dick is the only employee to have been honored by the company with a sixty-year service pin.
Robert E. “Bob” Wertheimer, Robert S. Wertheimer’s son, worked for the company from 1953 until his retirement in 2000. For many years he was senior vice president and ran the Corrugated Container business with multiple box plants located strategically around the U.S. Bob passed away in 2007.
Dick Wollenberg’s son, Richard H. “Rick” Wollenberg worked for the company for over 18 years and followed in his father’s footsteps becoming President in 2001 and serving as the third CEO of the company until its sale to Brookfield Asset Management in 2007. Rick was an active member of the World Forestry Center Board of Directors for several years.
The Longview mill and box plants are now owned by Kapstone. WestRock's recently announced acquisition of Kapstone is expected to close in 2018. Timberlands are now owned by Weyerhaeuser.
Thanks to the Wertheimer and Wollenberg families, the 80 year legacy of Longview Fibre Company continues contributing to the education of future leaders at Oregon State University College of Forestry, University of Washington Biosciences Engineering, and Reed College, as well as being a cornerstone for development of Longview and Cowlitz County’s history and culture.
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We invite you to visit the Forestry Leadership Hall located on the second floor of the Discovery Museum. For more information
click here
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World Forest Institute News and Updates
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2016 World Forest Institute Fellows
Where Are They Now?
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Rebecca Hsu – Fellow from Taiwan
After her fellowship, Rebecca went back to work for the
Taiwan Forestry Research Institute
. In 2017, she coordinated a new project, the
Taiwan Tree Project
, in partnership with Australian experts to conduct a portrait photo of Taiwania, one of the tallest conifers in East Asia. The project was very successful and raised more than one million New Taiwan Dollars (about 34,000.00 US Dollars) for environmental conservation in Taiwan.
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Samantha Kwan – Fellow from Malaysia
Samantha returned to work for the
Sarawak Forestry Corporation
at Piasau Nature Reserves (PNR) managing an urban forest in the city of Miri. She has been increasing public involvement in PNR and presenting on PNR’s successes at conferences. The connections she made during her fellowship followed her to Malaysia. She organized a public seminar on urban forestry with guest speaker Dr. Cecil Konijnendijk, a renowned professor from the University of British Columbia. She collaborated with Brian French, a well-known Portland arborist, on an insect cavity nesting project for the Oriental Pied Hornbill in PNR. In 2018, she will be setting up a nature classroom (inspired by attending the International Educators Institute at WFI) for urban areas in PNR. And recently, she was accepted as an active member for the IUCN Hornbill Specialist Group.
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Welcome New WFI Staff Member Vivian Bui!
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Vivian has an extensive background in wildlife research and natural resource management, including an M.S. in Wildlife Biology from the University of Washington, six years of leadership and project management, and nine years of experience conducting a range of fieldwork with a focus on endangered bird species. She is very excited to join the World Forest Institute and is looking forward to sharing her passion for environmental sustainability.
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From left to right: Vivian Bui, WFI Professional Programs Coordinator, Rick Zenn, Senior Fellow, Shadia Duery, WFI Fellowship Program Manager, Sara Wu, Interim Executive Director
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Conferences and Convening
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Save the Date "The Era of Megafires"
Wednesday, April 11 from 7:00-9:00 pm
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Join us in Miller Hall for a special multimedia presentation and panel discussion with Dr. Paul Hessburg, research landscape ecologist with the US Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station. The panel discussion will be moderated by the City Club of Portland.
Hessburg will outline the risks that large wildfires – “megafires” of 100,000 acres or more – create for both forests and communities. His presentation will describe how current fire conditions are threatening wildlife habitat, natural resources, towns and cities, and human health. “A future without wildfire isn’t an option,” says Hessburg. “The current megafire issue is a social problem with an ecological explanation. To tackle it, we need to understand how we got here, what’s at stake, and what each of us can do.”
The Carlton Complex Fire, near his home in Central Washington, became the largest wildlife in state history when it burned 256,000 acres and destroyed 322 homes. A year later, his hometown of Wenatchee lost 30 homes and several warehouses in the Sleepy Hollow Fire. “It is heart wrenching when you know people who lost their homes in these fires,” Hessburg says.
Hessburg’s work has been published extensively in leading scientific journals over the past 30 years.
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- 6:00 pm: Reception will be held before the presentation
- 7:00-9:00 pm: Presentation and panel discussion
- A morning program for high school students is also planned
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Thank you to the event sponsors:
City Club of Portland
The Nature Conservancy
Oregon Forest Resources Institute
US Forest Service
World Forestry Center
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Registration will be available soon, stay tuned!
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Become a Member of the Discovery Museum!
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Friends and Family Membership is $60
• Includes member and four guests admission to our museum for one year
• 10% off in our Forest Store (not including sale items)
Memberships can be purchased
online
or by calling our Visitor Services staff at 503-488-2106
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Did you know that the Discovery Museum is part of a reciprocal membership program?
As a member of the Discovery Museum you also gain admission for four to participating Portland area attractions during the following months in 2018:
January– Oregon Zoo
February– Oregon Historical Society
March– Deepwood Museum & Gardens
April– Lan Su Chinese Garden
May– Architectural Heritage Center
June– Columbia River Maritime Museum
July– World Forestry Center Museum
August– Clark County Historical Museum
September– Rice Museum of Rocks & Minerals
October– Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum
November– Oregon Coast Aquarium
December– Washington County Museum
Please note our museum is now closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays but will be open seven days a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
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Weddings at the World Forestry Center
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For more information about the World Forestry Center, please contact Wendy Mitchell, Development and Community Relations Director,
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