Archie Aldis "Red" Emmerson (born 1929) is the founder of
Sierra Pacific Industries, a lumber products company that operates in California, Oregon and Washington. With 2.33 million acres, Emmerson and his family rank as America’s largest private landowners, according to a profile by
Eric O’Keefe
Eric O'Keefe (born March 11, 1961) is an American author, editor, and journalist based in Texas. His most recent book is the Palm Beach polo murder mystery ''The Perfect 10''. He authored the book '' The Cup'' and co-wrote the screenplay for the ...
in the 2021
Land Report 100.
Early life
Born in
Grand Ronde, Oregon in 1929, and lived his early years in meager surroundings. He attended school while his father, R.H. "Curly" Emmerson built sawmills in Oregon and California.
Career
In 1948, at age 19, Emmerson arrived in Arcata, California where he began working in mills learning as much as he could about every job in the plant.
In 1949 Emmerson and his father formed a partnership and went into the lumber business together, eventually producing manufacturing facilities in the northwest. Under Emmerson's management the company grew into Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) – now the second largest lumber producer in the U.S.
According to the Land Report 100, the Emmerson family is the largest private landowner in the United States.
Philanthropy
Through th
Sierra Pacific Foundation the Emmersons have given millions of dollars in community contributions. The Foundation was established in 1979 by Red's father. Over the years, Red has continued to fund the Foundation to meet its philanthropic commitment to worthy organizations, community projects, youth activities, and student scholarships for the communities where the company has operating facilities.
Personal life
He has three children and lives in
Redding, California
Redding is the economic and cultural capital of the Shasta Cascade region of Northern California and the county seat of Shasta County. Redding lies along the Sacramento River, north of Sacramento, and south of California's northern border wi ...
.
His sons George and Mark are president and chairman of SPI. His daughter Carolyn is the president of the Sierra Pacific Foundation. His wife of 40 years, Ida, died of breast cancer in 1996.
Recognition
*1998 Golden Plate Award of the
American Academy of Achievement
*2008 New California Hall of Fame
*2019 Timber Processing magazine’s Person of the Year
*2019 West Coast Lumber & Building Material Association (WCLBMA) Lifetime Achievement Award
References
External links
Sierra Pacific Industries
American billionaires
Living people
1929 births
20th-century American landowners
20th-century American businesspeople
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