Sawdust in your blood

When Saratoga Forest Management first began operations in 2012—operating the sawmill once owned by Louisiana Pacific—it was big news for two reasons.

First, the sawmill had been closed since 2003 dealing a major blow to the local economy. Second, Saratoga Forest Management was processing the abundance of beetle-killed lodgepole pine. When newspapers descended upon Saratoga to report the news of the sawmill reopening, one of the people they spoke with was Orville Howe.

Howe and eight of his brothers had worked for Louisiana Pacific before it closed the sawmill. He had also worked for Hines Lumber Company, which owned the sawmill before Louisiana Pacific. When the sawmill reopened, only Howe and two of his brothers—Guy and Tom—returned.

In a July 2013 interview with the Casper Star-Tribune, Howe said “As long as they’re there, I’ll be there. When I die, I guess they’ll have to take me off the trimsaw.”

Fortunately, that day never arrived. On April 24, however, Saratoga Forest Management did celebrate Howe’s retirement. After more than 40 years—it would have been 50 years if not for the sawmill closing—the man who once said he had sawdust in his blood started a new chapter in his life.

The retirement celebration was held just outside the main office for Saratoga Forest Management with barely a cloud in the sky. Owner Gary Ervin traded grilling duties—burgers and brats, like any old-fashioned American cookout—with supervisor Tom James. According to Ervin, someone like Howe is irreplaceable.

“I won’t find anybody that knows what Orville knows and comes to work every day on time and if he ever has to go any place, he gives you at least a week’s notice,” said Ervin.

Ironically enough, while Howe showed up to work each and every day on time, he was a few minutes late to his own retirement party. Not that anybody in attendance seemed to mind. After decades of punctuality, someone being tardy to their own party was acceptable.

“Orville’s been excellent. You just turn him loose. He knew what to do and he did it everyday,” said Ervin. “Orville was willing to help anybody, anybody that wanted to help themselves.”

Along with burgers and brats, Ervin and his wife, Cheryl, also had a cake for Howe’s retirement. Written on the cake were the words “Orville, you knew the mill would reopen,” a reference to his interview with the Casper Star-Tribune more than a decade before.

“When I was opening up, we had several papers around the state come interview (us). Orville was always willing to speak to them,” said Ervin. “Orville would always tell them ‘I knew this mill would open someday.’ I don’t know how he knew, but he knew.”

Howe took the retirement party all in stride, a smile on his face as he grabbed lunch and was shown the cake by Ervin. From 2003 until 2012, when the mill reopened, Howe had worked for a local landscaping company. When Saratoga Forest Management bought the mill and resumed operations, Howe returned to what he knew best. A tradition started by his dad and carried on by him and his brothers.

“I really appreciate it,” said Howe. “I appreciate Gary and them giving me the chance to do it.”

With this chapter of his life closed, the man who Ervin said knew what to do and did it everyday steps into the unknown. When asked what he would do now that he was retired, Howe simply said, “I really don’t know yet.”