By Jessie Higgins
LANGLOIS — World War II was looming the day Dick Hildebrand had an accident.
Hildebrand had a thing for hot rods as a young man. He drove his hot rod too fast and crashed. His injuries were bad, and he spent a summer in the hospital. If not for that wreck, he would have gone to war. Instead, Hildebrand went to work.
Like the previous generations of his family who have lived, worked, and died on the hills near Langlois, Hildebrand has spent his life as a rancher.
“I’m so proud of him,” said James Kalina, Hildebrand’s grandson. “He’s very modest about his accomplishments. He supported his wife and three children all by himself. He worked all the time.”
Milled some Douglas fir and P.O. Cedar for a customer this week. It was blown down timber recovered from his property and was milled into full 2x6 primarly, he plans to use for fencing.
Our forests on the South Coast are rich in a variety of timber. All our forest management is designed to improve the health of the whole forest, while taking out a limited supply of usable wood.
We believe in small-scale timber operations, and protecting family farms. We are also active in educating students about responsible forestry.