SEELEY LAKE - Two tragedies befell the Pyramid Mountain Lumber family Thursday, Nov. 17. We lost two key contributors to our success, Dave Solum and Phil Pohlman. While neither were on the production line, both were integral ensuring production workers could do their jobs.
Dave started working at Pyramid April 16, 2012. He spent his day in a Bobcat, on a loader or in a dump truck. His primary responsibility was keeping all of the bark, broken logs ends and other debris cleaned up under and around our three debarkers. If he was not doing his job, a debarker would go down and starve the mill for logs.
Most folks knew Dave by his voice as barker operators and others were always alerting Dave as to an area that needed his attention. He was a magician at maneuvering a Bobcat in tight quarters.
Phil’s employment began May 23, 2011 as a millwright. He had a wide range of responsibilities and could do about anything. On any given day you could find him anywhere on the plant site.
Phil was an accomplished large equipment operator, carpenter, fabricator, millwright and mechanic. Some people just have a knack for seeing a problem and fixing it, that was Phil. The variety of Phil’s skills allowed him to work with and mentor several of our employees. They all looked up to Phil due to his knowledge, work ethic and ability to help others learn.
One word comes to mind when you think of Dave and Phil, industrious. Webster’s defines industrious as skillful, ingenious, diligent and persistently active. You never had to wonder if they were working. Not only were they working, but they were always on alert for something else to do.
Pyramid’s loss pales in comparison to that of Celeste Bishop Solum and Sharon Pohlman. Our collective hearts ache for them and their families. Our hope and prayer is that as a company and community we can show both families the love and support they will need going forward.
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