Where it all began.

The story of Montgomery Timber Management begins in 1947, when Martin Montgomery partnered with Dick Spencer to form Montgomery and Spencer Logging. Dick was responsible for the log trucks and hauling of logs, while Martin oversaw the falling, yarding, and loading of the logs. They used Cat dozers from the area, along with drum yarders and steel spar poles for "high lead" cable logging on slopes too steep to cat log. This partnership lasted until 1967 when both partners retired. The land that the company had acquired over the years was split in half between Dick and Martin. The land that Martin received is still managed today by Montgomery Timber Management, and the timberland is now divided among his three children and their immediate families.

David, Martin’s son, received his Bachelor’s Degree in Forestry from Oregon State University. He gained experience working for Hult Lumber Company as a logger—this is the same Hult after which the performing arts center in Eugene, OR, is named. David also spent four years in the U.S. Air Force and later worked for Weyerhaeuser, where he laid out roads and logging units. In 1970, David, along with his younger brother Dan and their father Martin, began logging the family’s timberland. By 1977, Martin had fully retired, Dan entered the real estate business, and David formed Montgomery Timber Management. He continued logging the family property and took on small private logging and timber management jobs for various clients.

Martin & david Montgomery

Martin Montgomery

david Montgomery

In 1989, Montgomery Timber Management reached a crossroads. New rules related to forest management and the Northern Spotted Owl were fully implemented, and the logging industry was hit hard, with no clear prediction of what the future might hold. Mike, David’s son, had just graduated from high school and was at a crossroads regarding his future with Montgomery Timber Management. David encouraged Mike to explore other options. Mike soon joined the local volunteer fire department and was hired as a Firefighter/Paramedic with the Eugene Fire Department. David continued logging on the family land and for a select number of clients until around 2008.

Before 2008, David and Mike began transitioning the business, with Mike taking over Montgomery Timber Management and David moving into a more semi-retired role. Mike’s work schedule had made it so that he was able to work full shifts with the Eugene Fire Department and log on his two days off. The work continued on the family timberland, as well as a few private jobs.

Martin & Mike

mike montgomery

This arrangement continued until the spring of 2018 when Mike’s son, Garrett, graduated from high school. Even before graduating, Garrett knew he wanted to dive into the family business. He graduated on a Friday, and by Monday morning, he was logging. By then, the outlook for the logging industry had improved since Mike’s own graduation in 1989. Garrett took the reins, and the business has continued to expand since he first started.

In 2021, Mike retired from the Eugene Springfield Fire Department after nearly 26 years of service. Montgomery Timber Management has continued to grow, adding the ability to cable log with the construction of the Yoader—a log loader with two yarding drums attached and integrated into the hydraulic system of the loader. This allows them to cable log in steep and/or sensitive areas where machines are unable to operate.

Soon after, they added more employees and machines, gaining the capability to log almost any scenario. From thinning overstocked timber stands to clearcuts, and nearly everything in between, the company is now well-equipped for most logging situations. The focus remains on keeping the business small while serving the needs of timber/landowners. The company believes it’s vital to maintain a manageable span of control, which is why they keep the business compact. Their emphasis is on educating timber/landowners with no prior logging knowledge and maintaining an open, two-way channel of communication between them and the landowners they work for.