Gordon R. Connor
(1905-1986)
Inducted September 5, 1986
Plaque Engraving:
Gordon R. Conner, a co-founder of the Timber Producers Association president and coordinator of the first Lake States Logging Congress and leader in many state and national forestry associations, promoted significant forestry research and was long active in forestry legislative and taxation issues.
As Vice-President, President, and Chairman of the Board of Connor Forest Industries from 1929-1982, he practiced advanced timber management, supported Tree Farm Programs and established the nationally known Camp 5 Logging Museum complex at Laona, Wisconsin.
More about George R. Connor:
Connor was executive vice-president of Connor Forest Industries (Wausau and Laona, WI) from 1929 to 1964 and president from 1964 to 1978 when he retired. He was directly responsible for significant expansions of his company’s forest land holdings, as well as manufacturing production facilities. With the assistance of his professional forester staff, he pioneered the management of northern hardwoods, and became an innovator of whole tree logging techniques and chip utilization.
Connor was a co-founder, and president of the Timber Producers Association of Michigan-Wisconsin and early promoter of the Lakes States Logging Congress.
Connor was also president of the Northern Hardwood & Pine Association, a director of the National Forest Products Association, a director of the American Forest Products Institute, president of the National Hardwood Lumber Association and an early advocate of the Wisconsin Tree Farm Program. In these various capacities he was for many years an activist in numerous legislative issues involving forestry, forest land taxation, and land use.
He established the nationally-known Camp Five Logging Museum at Laona which includes a Green Treasure Forest Tour that demonstrates sustained yield forest management and has been viewed by several hundred-thousand since its inception.
