Ralph G Swanson
(1920-2020)
Inducted August 5, 2020
Plaque Engraving:
Ralph Swanson provided a lifetime of inspirational service and leadership to advance sustainable forestry in the Lake States and to the Forestry Community at large. His ability to conceive, communicate, collaborate and implement a long-term vision of productive forestry is a model for foresters to strive for today.
More about Ralph G. Swanson:
Ralph Swanson spent his career working for Consolidated Papers Inc. (CPI) after serving in the US Army during World War II. While at CPI, he supervised the Pulpwood Rafting & Loading Operations, then became the Central Wisconsin District Superintendent, later named Assistant Manager of the Timberlands Division and finally Manager in 1974. After spending 39 years with CPI, he retired in February 1985.
During his career, Ralph spent countless hours participating and leading numerous local, regional and national committees addressing and influencing policy and legislation affecting forestry and the forest industry. With a cool head, a reasoned approach and spirit of innovation from his engineering and war-time experiences, Ralph provided leadership and long-term thinking for the forestry community on such issues as preservation/conservation values, chemical usage in forestry, logging safety, and increased mechanization of forestry operations.
Ralph’s commitment to tell the story of forest management continued into retirement. Harriet and Ralph retired to a home on the shores of West Birch Lake, in Winchester, Vilas County in 1985. There, they established “Swanson’s Working Forest” on 45 wooded acres. This became the site of an annual operation to produce award winning maple syrup. This activity also provided many opportunities for area retirees and other residents to come together, despite the wintry weather, to participate in gathering full buckets of sap from the land’s beautiful mature maple trees. Groups of area students were invited to visit the Swanson’s land during this process, to learn about how maple syrup was made, the old-fashioned way.
Ralph provided a lifetime of inspirational service and leadership to advance sustainable forestry in the Lake States and to the Forestry Community at large. His ability to conceive, communicate, collaborate and implement a long-term vision of productive forestry is a model for foresters to strive for today.
