George T. Gerlinger
Encyclopedia
George T. Gerlinger was influential in the railroad and lumber products business in the U.S. state
of Oregon
in the early 20th century. The oldest son of Louis Gerlinger, Sr.
, in 1902 he organized a group of investors in Dallas, Oregon
to build railroad lines in the area.
In 1906, they purchased a lumber mill and several stands of timber. The business's name was changed to Willamette Valley Lumber Company. George served as secretary and manager of the new company. Officers included Louis Gerlinger, Sr.
, president; H.L. Pittock
, vice president; and F.W. Leadbetter
, treasurer. George Cone served as director and mill superintendent. In 1967, the company became Willamette Industries. Willamette Industries was one of the largest lumber companies in the world before a hostile takeover by Weyerhaeuser
.
Gerlinger Motor Car Company was founded in 1912 by George and his younger brother Louis Gerlinger, Jr. as a car and truck dealership. In 1914, they decided to build their own truck with a more powerful six-cylinder engine. Ed Gerlinger, the youngest brother, was also involved in the business. The Gersix was unveiled in 1915. In 1917, the manufacturing operation was sold to Edgar K. Worthing, their Seattle landlord, and Captain Frederick W. Kent, an ex-Coast Guard Captain, investor and businessman. They re-incorporated as the Gersix Manufacturing Co. In 1923, the company became Kenworth Truck Co.
In October 1955, the State of Oregon dedicated 1000 acres (4 km²) as the George T. Gerlinger State Experimental Forest.
His memorial biography is housed in the World Forestry Center
in Portland, Oregon
.
George's wife, Irene Hazard Gerlinger, was the first woman on the University of Oregon
’s Board of Regents and an important fundraiser for the university, including for what was then known as the University of Oregon Museum of Art
. Gerlinger Hall on the university campus is named for her.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
in the early 20th century. The oldest son of Louis Gerlinger, Sr.
Louis Gerlinger, Sr.
Louis Gerlinger, Sr. was a businessperson in the railroad and timber industries in the U.S. state of Oregon in the early 20th century. Gerlinger became involved in the railroad business comparatively late in life. He was born in Alsace in 1853. At the age of 17, he came to the United States,...
, in 1902 he organized a group of investors in Dallas, Oregon
Dallas, Oregon
The city of Dallas is the county seat of Polk County, Oregon, United States. The population was 14,583 at the 2010 census.Dallas is located on Rickreall Creek, approximately 15 miles west of Salem, at an altitude of 325 feet above sea level...
to build railroad lines in the area.
In 1906, they purchased a lumber mill and several stands of timber. The business's name was changed to Willamette Valley Lumber Company. George served as secretary and manager of the new company. Officers included Louis Gerlinger, Sr.
Louis Gerlinger, Sr.
Louis Gerlinger, Sr. was a businessperson in the railroad and timber industries in the U.S. state of Oregon in the early 20th century. Gerlinger became involved in the railroad business comparatively late in life. He was born in Alsace in 1853. At the age of 17, he came to the United States,...
, president; H.L. Pittock
Henry Pittock
Henry Lewis Pittock was an Oregon pioneer, newspaper editor, publisher, and wood and paper magnate. He was active in Republican politics and Portland, Oregon civic affairs, a Freemason and an avid outdoorsman and adventurer...
, vice president; and F.W. Leadbetter
Frederick Leadbetter
Frederick W. Leadbetter was an Iowa-born financier who made his fortune primarily in lumber and paper milling in the Pacific Northwest and California...
, treasurer. George Cone served as director and mill superintendent. In 1967, the company became Willamette Industries. Willamette Industries was one of the largest lumber companies in the world before a hostile takeover by Weyerhaeuser
Weyerhaeuser
Weyerhaeuser is one of the largest pulp and paper companies in the world. It is the world's largest private sector owner of softwood timberland; and the second largest owner of United States timberland, behind Plum Creek Timber...
.
Gerlinger Motor Car Company was founded in 1912 by George and his younger brother Louis Gerlinger, Jr. as a car and truck dealership. In 1914, they decided to build their own truck with a more powerful six-cylinder engine. Ed Gerlinger, the youngest brother, was also involved in the business. The Gersix was unveiled in 1915. In 1917, the manufacturing operation was sold to Edgar K. Worthing, their Seattle landlord, and Captain Frederick W. Kent, an ex-Coast Guard Captain, investor and businessman. They re-incorporated as the Gersix Manufacturing Co. In 1923, the company became Kenworth Truck Co.
Kenworth
Kenworth is an American manufacturer of medium and heavy-duty Class 8 trucks based in Kirkland, Washington, United States, a suburb of Seattle. It is a subsidiary of PACCAR, and is also a former manufacturer of transit buses and school buses.-History:...
In October 1955, the State of Oregon dedicated 1000 acres (4 km²) as the George T. Gerlinger State Experimental Forest.
His memorial biography is housed in the World Forestry Center
World Forestry Center
The World Forestry Center is an American nonprofit educational institution in Portland in the U.S. state of Oregon. Located near the Oregon Zoo in Washington Park, the center was established in 1964 as the Western Forestry Center.-History:...
in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
.
George's wife, Irene Hazard Gerlinger, was the first woman on the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
’s Board of Regents and an important fundraiser for the university, including for what was then known as the University of Oregon Museum of Art
Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art
Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art is an art museum located on the campus of the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon. The original building was designed by Ellis F. Lawrence as part of his "main university quadrangle," now known as the Memorial Quadrangle...
. Gerlinger Hall on the university campus is named for her.
External links
- Historic images of George T. Gerlinger State Experimental Forest from Salem Public Library