Pat grew up in Portland, in a large and loving family. His father taught him hard work and perseverance. His mother encouraged him to follow his dreams and seek guidance from his Uncle Jack, who was a role model and a mentor for Pat.

Pat joined Patrick Lumber, the company founded by his grandfather, in 1983, after graduating from the University of Washington. He had no experience in the lumber industry, but he had a lot of determination. He started calling potential customers and suppliers, and never gave up.

Pat saw an opportunity to expand the domestic market for lumber. He searched for new niches and new products, and developed relationships with customers and suppliers across the nation. He was a creative problem solver, who always looked at things from a different perspective. He was not interested in just making a sale, but in building trust and loyalty.

Pat became a bridge between the producers and the consumers of lumber. He helped them succeed by providing them with quality products, competitive prices, and excellent service. He also became deeply connected to the lumber industry, and built a strong network of contacts and friends.

In the late 90’s, Pat and two of his colleagues had the chance to buy Patrick Lumber from his Uncle Jack. They had a vision and a plan, and they also had a set of core values that guided them: honesty, integrity, and respect. Pat was an essential part of the partnership, a natural mediator who could balance different opinions and find common ground. They diversified their products and their customer base, while staying agile, adaptable, and true to their principles.

Pat is a hard-working and energetic leader, who is always in the office, unless he is traveling. He is hands-on, and always ready to help his team solve any problem. He is a positive and cheerful person, who can argue with a smile on his face. He is easy to talk to, approachable, and trustworthy. He is a sounding board and a counselor, who listens and gives honest advice. He cares about his people, and he advocates for them when he can.

Pat is persistent, determined, and resilient. He does not take no for an answer, but he also knows how to compromise and negotiate. He is a problem solver and a critical thinker, who has taught the younger traders that there is always a way out of a difficult situation.

In 2017, Pat was elected President of Patrick Lumber, a testament to his leadership and vision. He has also recognized the importance of bringing young people with fresh ideas and skills into the industry. He knows that the future of Patrick Lumber depends on having the next generation of leaders and owners in place, and he has made sure to prepare them for that role.

Pat is not only a successful businessman, but also a generous and compassionate human being. He gives back to the community through his service at his church, his support for programs for youth, athletics, and education, and his involvement with various lumber industry associations. He is a proud grandson of Charles C. Patrick, and a proud nephew of Uncle Jack, whose red vest he wears with honor. But he has also created his own legacy, a legacy of excellence, innovation, and kindness.

Joe Honochick, a native Oregonian, is a man of integrity, honor, and a strong work ethic. He grew up on a small cattle ranch in the Willamette Valley. He learned responsibility and developed a solid work ethic. At seven, he told his father he wanted to buy a steer for himself. His father was surprised when he could articulate his plan to go to the bank to borrow money for a steer. He got his steer, and it was just the first of the many challenges he would face with the same spirit, drive, and determination to achieve his goals.

He learned about the lumber industry from local timber barons who took him under their wings and became his mentors. He started his career in the wood products industry in high school, building houses during the summer. He continued to work his way through college building houses and graduated with a business degree.

After graduation, Joe worked for several companies in the wood products industry, including Oregon Cedar Products, Pacific Rim Manufacturing, and Pennington Crossarm Co. In 1997, he began working full-time as the Sales Manager at an old sawmill in Eugene, Oregon. Within months, he had rebuilt the mill's customer base from 80% export to 95% domestic products.

In 1999, Joe moved up to General Manager, and his dream of running a sawmill became a reality. Under his leadership, the mill flourished as demand outstripped production. He holds himself to the highest standards and has high expectations for his employees. He encourages advancement and knows the person pulling the green chain is just as important as the shift supervisor. He is a good leader whom his employees trust and is happy to follow. He is a man of honor and integrity and reflects all that is good about the industry. For the last 27 years, he has worked for Zip-o-Log Mills, and today he is General Manager. He is the recipient of the 2022 Lumberperson of the Year award, the 100th year of the organization.

The Lumberperson of the Year for 2021 is a remarkable figure who exudes both humility and confidence. His unwavering optimism and passion are evident in all that he does, and he attributes his outlook to the self-confidence that he has earned through hard work, determination, and the unwavering core values that have guided his life.

Born in the heart of the Willamette Valley in Oregon, our subject is a true native of the state. Growing up, he spent most of his time in the great outdoors, learning to hunt and fish and developing a deep appreciation for all of Oregon's natural beauty. His father and grandfather were instrumental in shaping his character and instilling in him important life lessons that have stayed with him to this day.

Our subject showed a remarkable aptitude for the lumber industry from an early age. He honed his skills and worked tirelessly to build a reputation as one of the field's most skilled and dedicated workers. His work ethic, combined with his natural talent and deep respect for the environment, quickly earned him the admiration and respect of his colleagues and peers.

As his career progressed, our subject continued to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to excellence and a deep passion for his work. His dedication and hard work have earned him numerous accolades and awards, including the prestigious Lumberman of the Year award.

Today, our subject continues to work tirelessly to promote the interests of the lumber industry and to ensure that Oregon's natural beauty is preserved for generations to come. An inspiration to all who know him, he is a true testament to the power of hard work, dedication, and unwavering values.

When he’s not at the company he founded, Elk Creek Forest Products, Brett enjoys being with his family, fishing, hunting, and sporting activities.

Craig Johnston, the 2019 Lumberperson of the Year, is a native Oregonian who grew up in the great outdoors, learning to ski and loving everything Oregon offers. His forester father taught him how to fly fish, and fly fishing taught him many important life lessons. He attended the University of Oregon, where he majored in business and played quarterback, excelling as a natural leader and team builder.

After graduation, he talked his way into a job at American International Forest Products, where he started his career in the lumber industry as a trader trainee. He worked through the ranks, becoming President of American International in 1998. In 2006, he became President and CEO of Forest City Trading Group, which he helped lead in creating a successful Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Under his leadership, the company has grown into one of North America’s largest diversified forest product companies.

Craig is a leader passionate about the lumber business and the companies he represents. He is driven and never satisfied with the status quo, always looking for a better way, a new idea, or another opportunity. He is a big-picture idea guy, but he also has the drive and determination to see those ideas through and surround himself with talented people who help make them a reality. He leads by example, and his fingerprints make an indelible mark on each of the pieces of the business he has helped to grow and develop.

Craig is a mentor to all and a leader who is smart enough to know when to get out of the way. He has the gift of facilitating and knows how to help others reach their full potential. He encourages hiring and mentoring young traders, training them, and then turning them loose, reinvigorating and recapitalizing the company by allowing others to invest in the future. Craig is grateful for all the success he’s been part of and encourages a culture of giving back to the community.

He and his wife strongly support the Oregon Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, Youth Education programs, and the Oregon Wildlife Foundation. Craig Johnston is an average guy who became a great leader, leading people to do great things and the 2019 Lumberman of the Year.

Ted Freres, the 2018 Lumberperson of the Year, was born in Salem, Oregon, in 1950. He was the youngest boy in a family of 10 children. He grew up learning how to compromise and enjoy the company of others. His father was a lumberman who started a small sawmill in 1922 on the North Fork of the Santiam River. Ted was happiest going to work at the mill with his dad, where he was fascinated with the process and mechanics of everything.

He attended Regis High School in Stayton, OR, where he played football and baseball. After high school, he headed off to Oregon State, where he studied Forestry and Mechanical Engineering and eventually focused on a Business Degree. He spent his summers working in the woods, building roads, running heavy equipment, and blowing up stumps. He graduated with a degree in Business in 1973.

Ted returned to join the family lumber company, bringing ideas and innovation he was eager to implement. He purchased the company's first computer and worked evenings and weekends to prove it could work. His vision of advanced computer technologies came alive in today's state-of-the-art manufacturing processes. He followed in his father's footsteps, had an aptitude for engineering, and was interested in building improvements and process innovation. He was visionary, open to new ideas, and always looking for the next creation. He enjoyed people, had a tactful way of getting things done, and knew when to compromise to see his ideas become a reality.

A humble man, he avoided the spotlight, never seeking recognition. He preferred being out in the mill rather than in the office, and he loved the feeling of community that the mill provided. The folks in the mill were like another part of his extended family. He treated everyone with dignity and respect and earned their respect as well.

Ted is the father of three boys, two of whom inherited the lumber gene and are still involved with the mill today. After his father died in 1979, he assumed more daily responsibility for the veneer plants and plywood operation. His passion for progress led to continuous improvement throughout the company. The state-of-the-art processes in place today have made it one of the nation's leading manufacturers of plywood and veneer and the only mass plywood panel manufacturer in North America.

In 1992, he became the 4th president in the company's almost 100-year history. Instead of becoming the face of the company, he focused his energy on personal relationships with his employees, providing family-wage jobs, and bringing prosperity to Santiam Canyon. Ted was a kind man with a big heart, a life-long resident of Stayton, OR, and an ardent supporter of the military, local schools, and children's services. He and his wife helped bring the Family Building Blocks Program into the community, and their generosity benefited nearly every community program in Stayton. He was like Robin Hood, an unsung community hero who worked quietly behind the scenes, preferring to let others have the spotlight. He believed that "It is every man's obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he has taken out." And he was always happy to give back to the community he loved. Sadly, Ted passed away on June 3rd, 2018, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. His spirit will live on in his family.

Dave Halsey is a man who was born with a passion for the lumber industry. His father worked in forestry, and his grandfather was a lumber wholesaler, so it was no surprise that Dave knew from a young age that he wanted to work in the same field. Growing up in Northern California, Dave discovered his love for books and learning, serving him well throughout his career.

Dave spent much time with his grandfather, Bill MacPherson, a mentor to him. Dave inherited his grandfather's stubborn discipline, determination, and self-reliance from his Scottish ancestry. Dave learned to set goals, plan to reach them, structure his life enough to get it moving, and then have the self-discipline and determination to see it through. These skills prepared him for success in the lumber industry. He attended Oregon State University, where he fell in love with his future wife and earned a business degree.

After college, Dave worked at a Portland wholesale distribution company started by an old Italian in the 50s. He quickly became a rising star, always three or four moves ahead of the competition. Dave was a self-starter, highly organized, full of ideas, passionate about everything, and determined to make his mark in the lumber industry. The trailblazer searched out new markets and developing business where previously there was none, always looking at things a little differently than most.

By 1997, Dave had become one of the top salesmen at the company, developing new markets in Sun Valley, Jackson Hole, and the San Francisco Bay area and building a network of loyal customers. He was also strong-willed and confident and didn't always agree with management. Young, aggressive, and politically inexperienced, he pushed things a little too far and eventually left the company.

Dave went to work for a cross-town rival wholesale company, where he re-set his goals and rebuilt his business. One of his customers recalled hearing the news of his move and thinking, "He'll be running that company in a few years." Dave quickly moved up in the company, becoming a board member, owner, and president. He was the right man at the right time and helped lead the company through difficult years. His vision, motivation, and clear communication of the common goals were instrumental in the company's continued success.

Dave has also shared his time and knowledge with the next generation. He coached his three boys in basketball through their grade school and high school years and, more recently, volunteered his time to mentor business students at OSU, sharing his knowledge, books, and resources. Halsey recognized the value of bringing young people with fresh ideas and skills into the industry. The future of his company depends on having the next generation of leaders and owners in place, and he had the foresight to get that done.

Patrick Lumber, the company Dave is so proud of, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2015, at the time he was president. With his foresight, he went to work on publishing a book about their history three years before the anniversary and well before he was president. Creating a book was no small undertaking; just like him, the book "is brutally honest."

Dave is a man who likes people, and they like him. His honesty and integrity are the foundation upon which he built his career, and his grandfather Bill MacPherson would be proud of 2017’s Lumberperson of the Year.

Mark Mitchell, the 2016 Lumberperson of the Year, is not your typical logger or sawyer. He was born on a US Military base in Germany, where his father was an Airforce Pilot. As a young boy, he moved around the world. He experienced different languages, which may have contributed to his slow speech as a child. However, he eventually discovered his gift of gab. He found his way to the Pacific Northwest when his father retired from the Air Force and settled in Tacoma, where he attended High School. He enjoyed sports and discovered he was a natural athlete, excelling in skiing, tennis, basketball, and golf.

After high school, Mark had no interest in lumber and went to Willamette University to study art. However, he soon realized he needed to find another major to make a living and discovered his interest in economics. After graduation, Mitchell applied for a job at Weyerhaeuser, where his career began in the lumber industry in 1979. He built relationships and a network of contacts that would ensure his success throughout his career. He met his future wife through a mutual friend while working at Weyerhaeuser. They are still happily married today with two children and a grandchild.

Mark continued his distinguished career at Cavenham Forest Products in Warrenton, Oregon, where he sold lumber and built a loyal following of customers who became his friends. In 1993, Mitchell started at Stimson as the Lumber Sales Manager. He was directly responsible for sales of a wide range of innovative products from Stimson mills across the Northwest. His extensive knowledge, experience, and leadership have contributed to the company's continued success. Mark treats his customers as friends and partners in business who share their success, and his charismatic personality, infectious laugh, and zest for life make it easy to be around him.

Mark has been described as a mentor and teacher who has taken many young wholesalers under his wing, taught them the ropes, and helped them succeed. He is thoughtful and patient but not afraid to jab and prod and teach them with wit and sarcasm. The leader helped others grow and made it look easy. He is always ready to have a beer, play a prank, share a laugh, and is the life of the party. He never has a bad day because he is eternally optimistic, attracts good people, and brings out the best in them.

Mark has worked in the forest products industry for 37 years and has been building relationships that are the foundation of the industry and make it unique and rewarding. He embodies so much of what is good about the industry and has made his piece of it a better place for all. He is the kind of man we are proud to call 2016's Lumberman of the Year!

Steve Kilgore, the 2015 Lumberperson of the Year, was born in Salem, Oregon, and grew up in poverty. His first home lacked indoor plumbing, and his father worked at a plywood mill, which led to the family moving around the Willamette Valley in search of work. Steve attended seven different grade schools before his father found steady employment at a plywood mill in Albany, where Steve attended South Albany High School. Despite working from a young age to help make ends meet, Steve played high school football and city league basketball and loved being part of a team.

After high school, Steve attended the Oregon College of Education with hopes of becoming an economics teacher and football coach. However, he fell in love and put his education on hold to get a job and support his family. He got a job at a plywood plant, working the swing shift while trying to return to school during the day. One night, a fire broke out in the plant during his shift, and Steve was the last man standing, still holding a firehose. The foreman recognized his character and integrity and recommended him for a sales training program in Phoenix, which sent him off into the world of sales and marketing.

After a few years in Arizona, Steve and his family moved back to Oregon in 1980, where he worked at Fremont Wholesale in Eugene. He finally found the time to coach football and coached from fourth grade through high school. He was a natural coach and team builder and applied those skills in every aspect of his life.

The recession of the early 80s was a difficult time, and Steve's family was increasing. His sales experience, work ethic, and charismatic personality opened doors for other opportunities. He went to work at Bohemia, Inc. to make a better life for his family. His mantra became "Not biggest, but best." He worked hard and quickly moved up in the company. He had five kids by the time he was 30 and sent them all to private Catholic schools, which was not cheap, but he knew the value of a good education.

To earn extra money, Steve played in a band at night. He was the lead singer and played guitar. Still, after a while, his boss at Bohemia realized his potential and gave him a choice to make: "You can be either a rock star or an executive." He made his choice and, at 28 years of age, became the Sales Manager for Bohemia.

While at Bohemia, Steve had an opportunity and the determination to finish his college degree. In 1990, he returned to school at night and completed his Management Degree from Linfield College. In 1992, Willamette Industries bought out Bohemia. Steve quickly adapted to a different corporate culture and ascended from the engineered products manager to General Sales Manager.

After completing his transition assignment with the Weyerhaeuser acquisition of Willamette, Steve purchased an interest in McKenzie Forest Products, where he served as President and CEO. In 2004, he also purchased Cascade Structural Laminators. As president, he reassembled a strong team of seasoned professionals from his Bohemia and Willamette days.

Steve Kilgore is a rare individual who has thrived in both the entrepreneurial and corporate worlds. He has survived and flourished, a testament to his personality and people skills. Steve has always been a team builder, bringing together individuals who can work together to achieve success. He has worked in the forest products industry for over 37 years and has earned the respect of all who know him.

When asked what he loved most about the lumber industry, Steve would compare it to his coaching days and reply, "Every day is game day! There is no practice!" While it might sound trite, he is one of those people for who no one ever has a bad word to say about. He has lived with integrity, honor, fundamental solid values, and an admirable work ethic.

Steve and his wife are very active in their church, The St. Vincent de Paul Society, and are always there to volunteer to help give back to their community and those less fortunate. He has come full circle and represents all that is good about our industry. Born into a low-income family, Steve pulled himself up by his bootstraps, worked hard, and earned everything. He went to school at night, gained the respect of all he encountered along the way, and then gave back to the less fortunate.

In 2010, Steve joined Roseburg Forest Products as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. He has always been an excellent ambassador of our industry and the kind of man we are proud to call this year's lumberman of the year. In addition to his contributions to his company and community, Steve has served our industry with his vision and leadership on the APA Board of Trustees, the Marketing Committee, and through his support of NAWLA and the PWLA. He is the epitome of the American dream, and we congratulate him on this well-deserved honor.

See his interview on the Lars Larson show here:

Mike Phillips, the 2014 Lumberperson of the Year Award recipient, was born in Baker City, Oregon, and raised in Bates, Oregon. His father was a hardworking logger who instilled in him a strong work ethic that he carried with him throughout his life. Growing up in Eastern Oregon, Mike developed a love for the outdoors and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and shooting squirrels. His father taught him discipline and self-reliance, which would later serve him well in his career.

Mike attended Prairie City High School, where he was a good student, a three-sport varsity athlete, and worked at the mill during the summers. After high school, he attended the University of Oregon, earning a degree in Business and Marketing. While at the university, he met his wife, who is still by his side today.

After college, Mike got a job selling shakes and shingles, which led him to International Paper and eventually to his present company. Gordon King hired him in 1977 as an assistant mill sales manager. He worked his way up through the organization, becoming the President and Chief Operating Officer. Mike's hard work, energy, enthusiasm, and positive attitude were contagious and helped empower those around him. He was passionate about the lumber business and the company he represented, always looking for a better way, a new idea, or another opportunity.

Mike was a mentor to many and a player-coach who knew when to get out of the way. He was fiercely loyal, generous, and understanding, always willing to help his friends and family. He had a search and rescue mentality, always the first one there to help when someone was stuck in the snow or needed a jump. Mike was also a substantial financial supporter of Trillium Family Services, the Oregon Food Bank, and the Oregon Wildlife Foundation.

In addition to his contributions to his company and community, Mike served the industry with his vision and leadership as a past Chairman of NAWLA, The Western Wood Products Association, the Wood Products Promotion Council, and the Timber Products Inspection Board of Advisors. He worked in the forest products industry for over 40 years and was respected and admired by all who had the chance to work with him.

Mike lived with integrity and honor, passing on the solid values his father taught him. He loved his family, his company, and the great outdoors. Phillips was a man who would do anything for his friends and family, always the first one there to help. The man was a true leader, and his fingerprints are on each piece of the business he helped to grow and develop over the years.

Don Dye Sr., the 2013 Lumberperson of the Year, was born to a baker father in Santa Cruz, California. His family moved to Ketchikan, Alaska, where he inherited his father's spirit of hope and optimism. After graduating from Ketchikan High School, he went to college in Chicago. Soon after arriving in Chicago, he enlisted in the Army in 1965 and served two tours of duty in Vietnam, returning in 1968.

After returning home with honor and two purple hearts, he took a sales job selling Rainbow vacuum cleaners door to door. He discovered his love for sales and his talent for connecting with people. He was such a good salesman that he convinced a customer to let him marry her daughter. They moved back to Ketchikan, where he worked at the family bakery and a local sawmill in 1970.

As his family grew, he moved them to Seattle and used his accounting degree to get a job at Western Dry-Kilns. However, he realized he was a people person and enjoyed working with people more than numbers. He motivated people with his strong positive mental attitude and became a plant manager. "PMA BABY!" was one of his many pet phrases heard at the plant.

He continued to learn and educate himself, adding business and forestry degrees to his resume. His passion for the lumber industry, the joy of selling, and his love of being with people guided him through his career in the lumber industry. He worked for Western Dry Kilns, North Pacific, Loth Lumber, and Mary's River Lumber in 1999. He pioneered the home center business for Mary's River and grew their sales by doing quality work, taking care of both customers and mills and earning the loyalty of all those around him with whom he did business.

Don balanced his work life with the Hoo-Hoo association, golf, coaching soccer and baseball, cheering the Washington Huskies, volunteering as Santa Claus, and most importantly - his family and friends. He treated everyone with respect and earned everyone's respect in return. "The Sheriff" passed away doing what he loved on a sales trip to Canada. Don Dye Sr. was a dedicated, professional, and optimistic man who embodied everything good about the lumber industry.