April 30th, 2025 3:30 a.m.

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners have announced that Commissioner Tim Freeman was recently honored with the prestigious “Tillicum Award” from the American Forest Resource Council.

A county release said the award is a new tradition for the AFRC and is presented to a select group of distinguished elected officials, local leaders and industry partners each year for their advocacy, tireless leadership and contributions to the timber, forestry, and resource conservation fields.

AFRC Public Affairs Director Nick Smith and AFRC Washington, Idaho and Montana consultant Tom Partin, presented Freeman with the award during the organization’s annual meeting held at Skamania Lodge in Stephenson, Washington, earlier in the month.

The release said the word ‘tillicum’ is an old-time logger slang, roughly based on Chinook Indian Nation’s jargon for “friend”. Smith said, “The recipients of this award are forever recognized as friends of AFRC, friends of the Western wood products industry, friends of good forestry and strong leaders and advocates for our rural communities”.

Smith said, “Tim Freeman is the true definition of Tillicum. A leader who keeps his word, an advocate who is always focused on making life better for the communities he serves”.

Freeman said, “I’m so very humbled. This award was quite the surprise and quite an honor. It’s a privilege to be recognized by peers in an industry I care so deeply about”.

More information about Freeman’s award is available at: https://www.douglascountyor.gov/932/_2025