In 1935, an 8-year-old George Weyerhaeuser first made headlines when he was kidnapped in Tacoma and held for ransom. John Larson, director of Polson Museum,. George Weyerhaeuser was a great leader and a great guy. TACOMA George Weyerhaeuser Jr., scion of the family that founded the Federal Way-based timber-products company that bears his name and a Tacoma civic and business leader in his own right, has. In 2021, the company reported net earnings of $2.6 billion on sales of $10.2 billion. After serving 28 years of his sentence, Harmon was hired by Weyerhaeuser at one of the companys plants in Oregon. Wendy Weyerhaeuser died in 2014. I think thats an important part of the story as well.. Eventually returned safely to his family, Weyerhaeuser died last week at 95. Young Weyerhaeusers family soon received a ransom demand for $200,000 in old $20, $10 and $5 bills. The company has century-long roots in Longview. According to his obituary, Weyerhaeuser did not let the experience derail his life nor cloud his feelings toward other people.. And a comprehensive remaking of states approach to drug possession advances toward action in the Senate. It brought great responsibility, and he carried it out, said Keller. Our company is a real estate investment trust. It was George Weyerhaeuser who unintentionally jolted them from obscurity. In 2021, we generated $10.2 billion in net sales and employed approximately 9,200 people who serve customers worldwide. His kidnappers were eventually caught and found guilty. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning), Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy, Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American, Stockfish to Represent Weyerhaeuser at Upcoming Investor Conferences in March, Weyerhaeuser Company Announces 5.6% Dividend Increase. 84 years ago: 9-year-old George Weyerhaeuser was kidnapped in Tacoma and held on $200,000 ransom By Natalie Guevara, SeattlePI Updated May 24, 2019 The Weyerhaeuser kidnappers - Timber scion. George was an extraordinary person and leader one of the most influential in the history of the industry, said Devin Stockfish, president and chief executive officer. SEATTLE , June 14, 2022 / PRNewswire / -- Weyerhaeuser Company (NYSE: WY) is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of George H. Weyerhaeuser Sr., long-time former leader and great-grandson of founder Frederick Weyerhaeuser. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Stockfish went on to say that over his years of leadership in the company, he brought about transformational changes to the company. Harmon Waley pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 45 years in prison. Our deepest sympathies for your family. You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. You appear to be using an older browser. George H. Weyerhaeuser Obituary (1926 - 2022) - Echovita I think that incident forced him to reckon with who he really was at a very young age, and he realized how he could get through it, Leilee Weyerhaeuser said Monday. you are forever in my heart . Weyerhaeuser, who was succeeded by Jack Creighton in 1991, is believed to be the last family member to serve in company management. The Weyerhaeuser family is planning a memorial service for later this summer, the press release states. By the 1990s, Weyerhaeuser operations in the Pacific Northwest were producing twice the timber volumes of their natural counterparts, according to a 1997 report by the World Resources Institute. One Friday in May 1935, 8-year-old George Weyerhaeuser was on his way home from school in Tacoma, Wash., when a stranger seized him, bundled him into a car and covered him with a blanket. Polson to host author of historic kidnapping on Saturday Please keep letters to 300 words or less. Stockfish went on to say that over his years of leadership in the company, he brought about transformational changes to the company. But, according to local historian and former Tacoma Mayor Bill Baarsma, one event in the citys past stands above the rest in terms of the white-hot attention it garnered: the kidnapping and eventual safe return of 9-year-old George Weyerhaeuser in 1935. The kidnappers began stalking the family after reading an obituary for J.P. Weyerhaeuser Sr., planning to abduct George and hold him for ransom. The company said he oversaw a great amount of growth of the company which included several major timberland acquisitions. We manage these timberlands on asustainablebasis in compliance with internationally recognized forestry standards. Weyerhaeuser served as board chair until 1999. Our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WY. Today, the kidnappers demand would be roughly $4 million. While Mr. Weyerhaeuser worked his way upward to one of the timber companys most senior positions, he was never overtly ambitious, said his friend. Weyerhaeuser, whose father, grandfather and great-grandfather also led the timber company that carries the family name, served as CEO from 1966 to 1991 and board chair until 1999. Learn more atwww.weyerhaeuser.com. There was a problem saving your notification. Please allow 24 hours for your entry to be reviewed for appropriate content. He went on to say the Weyerhaeuser Company cut down the construction cost so the facility could be constructed within the limited budget available. Weyerhaeuser Mourns the Passing of George H. Weyerhaeuser Sr. It didnt affect me personally as much as anyone looking back on it might think.. In a June 14 news release by the Weyerhaeuser Company one of Americas largest forestry firms founded by Weyerhaeusers great-grandfather the company addressed Weyerhaeusers passing. I mean, if you were born and raised in Tacoma, as I was, you knew about it.. As the ransom letter instructed, when they had the cash, the Weyerhaeusers placed a personal ad in the Seattle PI, communicating, We are ready, and signed using the code name, Percy Minnie. John Weyerhaeuser soon received a set of instructions from his sons abductors, which included taking the money into the woods in the dead of night and looking for a series of stakes driven into the ground marked with white cloths. The crime that put Tacoma on the map: Death of a timber scion hearkens These videos are a trip back in time, $754.6 million Powerball winner identified as Washington woman. An Auburn woman has won the $754.6 million Powerball jackpot. friend, said Mr. Weyerhaeuser was a people person. That lesson certainly applied to his own life. The 425-acre campus in Federal Way blends nature with corporate offices, creating a one-of-a-kind location both inside and outside of the building. Mr. Weyerhaeuser was president of the Thea Foss Waterway Development Authority, a board on which he had served for many years. Decatur High School senior amasses more than a hundred million views of his performance of James Blunts Monsters.. We own or control approximately 11 million acres of timberlands in the U.S. and manage additional timberlands under long-term licenses in Canada. I am sorry for your loss. In the late 1950s, George Weyerhaeuser Sr. entered the executive ranks at company headquarters in downtown Tacoma, as an assistant to the executive vice president, but quickly moved up. Matthew 5:4, Share to let others add their own memories and condolences. George Weyerhaeuser Sr. dies at 95 | Seattle Weekly Continue reading your article witha WSJ subscription, Already a member? No memorial events are currently scheduled. Johnston, who interviewed the historically tight-lipped Weyerhaeuser for his book, Deep in the Woods, said he asked the timber scion whether the ordeal had been traumatizing. George Weyerhaeuser Sr., Great-Grandson of Timber Company Founder and He was more interested in what was best for the company, not for George Weyerhaeuser. As they get cheaper, going electric no longer has to be a costly proposition. You have permission to edit this article. View Source Share Save to Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Created by: CMWJR Added: 26 May 2021 In 1948, George Weyerhaeuser married Wendy Wagner, whose family had been in the timber business, and the couple had six children: Leilee, George Jr., Sue, Phyllis, David and Merrill. The Biden administration is preparing a new program that could prohibit American investment in certain sectors in China, a step to guard U.S. technological advantages amid a growing competition between the worlds two largest economies. As Roberts perfectly summed up in the Seattle Times, On June 1, after eight days imprisonment in earthen pits, car trunks, closets and even a Uneeda cracker carton, George Weyerhaeuser was left on the side of a forest road near Issaquah with two blankets and a dollar.. Funeral arrangement under the care of Mountain View Funeral Home. Kidnappers held him for eight days and sent his father on several missions via hidden notes to accomplish tasks. A [young} boy is a pretty adaptable organism, he said. Mr. Weyerhaeuser suffered a heart attack Sunday evening on his boat on Commencement Bay. "Over his many years as president and CEO, he brought transformational changes to our company, including important advances in sustainable, high-yield forestry and wood products research, as well as expansion into overseas markets, among many other achievements. Meyer said Mr. Weyerhaeuser was a man who combined a passion for civic betterment with a keen business knowledge. During his tenure, the company launched several major initiatives. Susan Warner, the museums executive director, said he was one of the founding members of the museum, having worked on its board since 1999. In Federal Way, the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center has been the site for dozens of championship swim and dive meets, Olympic Trials and other important events. Tue, Jun 14, 2022. Go to the full article at The News Tribune . So many of these copycat kidnappings after the Lindbergh kidnapping did not turn out well, and this one did. It was designed by architect Charles Bassett of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill; landscape architect Peter Walker; and George Weyerhaeuser. Three years later, the company opened its first mill in Longview the largest in the world at the time, according to the company. Thats a big deal | Opinion, Racial disparities persist in WA prisons. The couple implicated a third kidnapper, William Mahan real name was William Dainard, according to HistoryLink.org, and considered the brains of the operation who was captured the following year. After walking to a farmhouse where a family was sitting down to breakfast, George was reunited with his family. Margaret Waley went to trial at the insistence of the judge, since it appeared the 19-year-old had no real involvement in the crime and never saw George Weyerhaeuser during his captivity and eventually received a sentence of 20 years. If the kidnapping put Tacoma in the spotlight, so did the trial that quickly followed which was held at the U.S. District Court downtown. In the last 100 years no one has had more influence on the shaping of South King County than George Weyerhaeuser, said Peter von Reichbauer, a King County councilman who represents Federal Way. This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. The deal was the largest private land transaction in American history to that time, according to the company. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, UPDATE: Owner of Longview's Grant's at the Monticello Hotel dies, KFC is bringing back a fan favorite after a nearly 10-year hiatus, UPDATE: Grant Hadler's death ruled a homicide; Kelso man arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, Police detain man reportedly threatening to jump off Lewis and Clark Bridge, Body found in river near Castle Rock identified, 2A High School Boys Basketball: Mark Morris going hardware shopping at State after dropping Sehome, 2A High School Boys Basketball: Gray gets hot, helps Mark Morris over No. Carl Ruckwardt. To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our. | A Matt Driscoll column. George Hunt Walker Weyerhaeuser was born July 8, 1926, in Seattle, to Helen (Walker) Weyerhaeuser and John Philip Weyerhaeuser Jr., grandson of company co-founder Frederick Weyerhaeuser, according to his obituary. Twenty six years earlier, Frederick Weyerhaeuser and 15 partners had paid $5.4 million to the Northern Pacific Railway for just over 1,400 square miles of forestland in Washington state. It was designed by architect Charles Bassett of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill; landscape architect Peter Walker; and George Weyerhaeuser. As someone who had worked in the mills and forests, he was never thinking that Wall Street knew how businesses should be run., Amazon shutters some convenience stores, including 2 in Seattle, Boeing WA state workers split $513M in bonuses as CEOs pay tops $22M, Thousands of WA workers may have to repay millions of dollars in pandemic benefits, Amazon Pauses Construction on Second Headquarters in Virginia as It Cuts Jobs, King County needs 17K new homes every year to address housing shortage. George Weyerhaeuser was released along a road in Issaquah, found his way to a nearby farmhouse, and was then taken back to his familys home in Tacoma. Mr. Weyerhaeuser was a key board member and a backer of the Museum of Glass. I am sorry for your loss. I wish I had the right words. There was the public transportation catastrophe that marred July 4, 1900 when an overpacked trolley on its way to Tacomas annual holiday parade jumped the track and plunged 100 feet into a ravine, killing 43 people. A blessing came to us when I worked under George's leadership on the construction of the Weyerhaeuser Corporate Office project. Meanwhile, the captors escaped with the money, at least for the moment. I know my dad had the fondest memories about George that he shared with us as we grew up. In May 1935, when George Weyerhaeuser was 8, his grandfather John P. Weyerhaeuser Sr. died. Moments later, the car sped off, and Weyerhaeuser hitched a ride back to Tacoma. Mr. Weyerhaeusers great-great grandfather was Frederick Weyerhaeuser, one of the company founders. While memories of the crime that put Tacoma in the worldwide spotlight might have faded since then, Baarsma said, the impact was lasting, and in the years that directly followed the ordeal remained top of mind for many Tacoma residents. Family-controlled Dillards has combined share buybacks with keeping costs down, inventory tight and staff engaged with nearly fanatical customers. He left a tremendous legacy and will be greatly missed by everyone in the greater Weyerhaeuser family and community, said Stockfish. When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type. Weyerhaeuser Company, one of the world's largest private owners oftimberlands, began operations in 1900. George Weyerhaeuser himself played the stoic. In a June 14 news release by the Weyerhaeuser Company one of Americas largest forestry firms founded by Weyerhaeusers great-grandfather the company addressed Weyerhaeusers passing. 1 Pullman in State semifinals, Kelso man dies weeks after Lewis River Road accident, Cowlitz County Jail sees more serious suspected offenders, fights in 2023, High School Boys Basketball State Preview: Mark Morris, R.A. Long could play for a State championship, NORPAC, WestRock, Castle Rock developers talk updates, High School Boys Basketball History: Kobe Parlin sets all-time scoring record for Mark Morris in State quarterfinal win, Renewable fuel faces uncertain future in northern Oregon, Pacific Northwest, 2A High School Boys Basketball: R.A. Long kicks off revenge tour at State with win over West Valley, Oregon counties want state Supreme Court ruling on timber harvest reinstated, Revisiting Weyerhaeuser's influence in Longview as woodworkers go on strike. Weyerhaeuser also questioned the industrys growing focus on Wall Street, share price and short-term results, which he saw as ill-suited in a business whose products took decades to mature. WA Lottery reveals Auburn woman as winner of $754.6 million Powerball jackpot, Ladies of Laughter Funny & Fabulous Tour takes the stage at Federal Way PAEC, Town hall will focus on Federal Ways future development, DOH awards $5.5M to improve Puget Sound shellfish habitats, Shoreline man sentenced for vehicular homicide. He was 59. 84 years ago: 9-year-old George Weyerhaeuser kidnapped in Tacoma When we wanted to build a world class aquatic center in the Puget Sound region in 1990, George helped us site it in then-unincorporated Federal Way, said von Reichbauer. COURTESY PHOTO, Weyerhaeuser. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. "Over his many years as president and CEO, he brought transformational changes to our company, including important advances in sustainable, high-yield forestry and wood products research, as well as expansion into overseas markets, among many other achievements. George H. Weyerhaeuser Obituary. our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. In the last 100 years no one has had more influence on the shaping of South King County than George Weyerhaeuser, said Peter von Reichbauer, a King County councilman who represents Federal Way. He also worked in a Springfield, Oregon mill, before moving up to management positions. He can adjust himself to conditions in a way no adult could. News Corp is a global, diversified media and information services company focused on creating and distributing authoritative and engaging content and other products and services. When we wanted to build a world class aquatic center in the Puget Sound region in 1990, George helped us site it in then-unincorporated Federal Way, said von Reichbauer. And he was only in his 20s.. George Weyerhaeuser was transported to a rental house in Spokane, while his parents John and Helen Weyerhaeuser worked to collect the ransom money on short notice, which was no small feat even for a family of considerable financial means. He was also the victim of a famous kidnapping case in 1935 . George was 9 years old when he disappeared on a Tacoma street. He was a great forward thinker, said Keller. Over his many years as president and CEO, he brought transformational changes to our company, including important advances in sustainable, high-yield forestry and wood products research, as well as expansion into overseas markets, among many other achievements.. There was the 1940 collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, captured on film, resulting in worldwide notoriety and the death of a three-legged Cocker Spaniel named Tubby. George Jr. died of a heart attack in 2013. In my opinion, its the most fascinating crime story in Washington state history, by an absolute mile, said Bryan Johnston, who published a book on the ordeal just last year. Weyerhaeuser was soon taken into the woods near Issaquah and chained up, while his kidnappers sent off a ransom letter, signed by George Weyerhaeuser in schoolboy cursive for authenticity, demanding $200,000 in small, unmarked bills. The kidnapping of a great grandson of the founder of a giant forestry company made international headlines.