December 20, 2023 4:20 a.m.
The Douglas Timber Operators have named three recipients of the organization’s Tough Tree Award.
A DTO release said the organization added the names to a list of distinguished recipients spanning decades. The award is to recognize individuals “for efforts above and beyond the call of duty for the forest products industry, timber workers, and natural resource dependent communities”.
The 2023 Tough Tree Award went to Pat Skrip, District Manager for the Douglas Forest Protective Association. DTO Executive Director Matt Hill said, “Pat’s dedication and commitment to Douglas County landowners and citizens ranks up there with many of the greats of this county. Whether it be national level, state or local, Pat’s unwavering commitment to see the best outcomes for our local communities, our highly valuable lands, and our citizens is greatly appreciated and recognized”.
2022 Tough Tree Awards were presented to Douglas County Commissioner Tim Freeman, and Paul Beck, retired from both Mount Western Log Scaling and Grading Bureau and Herbert Lumber.
Hill said, “Commissioner Freeman has worked in the logging sector and the public sector. He’s been an advocate, and a litigant in federal lawsuits over forest management. He’s had the distinction of being the only member of the Oregon legislature ever to take a chainsaw on the floor of the House of Representatives”.
Hill said, “Paul taught me the most important lesson about Oregon forestry: we can have it all. We can have timber harvest and jobs and economic benefit. We can also have clean air and water, fish in the river and wildlife habitat”.
DTO also presented the organization’s outgoing board president John Blodgett Jr. with a commemorative axe in appreciation of his admirable service to the organization and work to build the DTO timber pavilion at the Douglas County fairgrounds. Hill said, “John treated being board president like a full-time job. This organization and community are forever grateful for his service”.
The awards were given out at DTO’s annual Christmas social event on December 5th.