Owner of Salmon River Wood, Inc. Joe Fraser received this wooden replica of one of his yarders from his crew for his retirement. It was built by one of his truck drivers.
MISSOULA - After 46 years in the logging business and 35 years as owner of Salmon River Wood, Inc. out of Missoula, Joe Fraser had a few parting words at Pyramid Mountain Lumber's contract logger/landowner/log seller meeting May 3 in Seeley Lake.
When Fraser started logging, he equated it to a rite of passage from a boy to a man.
"It was a man's job. Young guys then wanted to be men. If you took it up and you were reasonably good at it, it gave you a chance to excel in an environment that you thought was worthy. It just so happened I was good at it. I just stayed with it," said Fraser.
Fraser started Salmon River Wood, Inc. and purchased each piece of equipment as he needed it. After he got going, he said he got emotionally involved with the people he worked with it.
"Pretty soon you are a family and you don't quit your family, so we didn't," said Fraser.
Fraser said he had crews in Washington and West Yellowstone with 450 miles between them. They did that for years with 200-300 miles between with six-seven jobs going at once.
"It takes a huge commitment. If you log, that is all you do, seven days a week and all the hours you can do," said Fraser.
Fraser estimates he has employed 1,500-2,000 men over the past 35 years. While the majority of his main crew has been with him 10-12 years, he has a truck driver that has been with him nearly 24 years and a processor operator that has been with him 26 years.
"You hire good men and work, really work and you are willing to do whatever it takes to keep everyone working," said Fraser
Fraser liked the challenge of logging but said it is now time to do something else. He is selling out one piece of equipment at a time.
"In today's world to invest $5 million to make two or three percent they won't do it, you can't," said Fraser. "And who is going to sign up to work 70 hour weeks."
While Fraser looks forward to doing projects with his family, he said he is always available to bounce ideas off of him.
"I know a lot about what I know and I can help that way and I'm willing to," said Fraser. "I want to see people do well for themselves. I was given the opportunity and we did well for ourselves and now it is time for someone else."
Fraser concluded his remarks to the group with, "I climbed all the hills I needed to climb and I've done everything I needed to do in the logging arena. It's been a good run, it's been a decent career and now I go away and I thank you for being a part of that."
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