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[1] by Eric O’Keefe in the 2021 Land Report 100. As of March 2024, they had a net worth of $5.4 billion.[2]
Red Emmerson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1929 (age 94–95) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Founder, Sierra Pacific Industries |
| Children | 3 |
Early life
editBorn 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
editIn 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.[3]
Philanthropy
editThrough the 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.[4]
Political activity
editEmmerson contributed $45,000 to Donald Trump's 2020 presidential campaign.[5]
Personal life
editHe has three children and lives in Redding, California.[2] 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.[6]
Recognition
edit- 1998 Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement[7]
- 2008 New California Hall of Fame[8]
- 2019 Timber Processing magazine's Person of the Year[9]
- 2019 West Coast Lumber & Building Material Association (WCLBMA) Lifetime Achievement Award[10]
References
edit- ^ "Red Emmerson Becomes America's Largest Landowner | the Land Report". 15 February 2022.
- ^ a b "Forbes profile: Archie Aldis Emmerson". Forbes. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ "2021 Land Report 100". 15 February 2022. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
- ^ Tomascheski, J. "Bud," "Sierra Pacific: A Family History" J."Bud" Tomascheski ISBN 0-9630947-1-8
- ^ "Here Are The Billionaires Who Donated To Donald Trump's 2020 Presidential Campaign". Forbes. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ "Terms of Service Violation". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
- ^ "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement.
- ^ "Hall of fame gets 8 Valley leaders". The Record.
- ^ "TP&EE Portland Will Honor Red Emmerson". Timber Processing. 25 September 2018.
- ^ "WCLMBA honoring Red Emmerson". HBS Dealer.