U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines recognized Sherm Anderson of Powell County for his long-standing dedication to Montana’s timber industry, carrying out his family’s entrepreneurial spirit in his hometown of Deer Lodge and for selflessly serving the greater Powell County community.
Through his “Montanan of the Month” initiative, each month Daines highlights a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in the recipient’s honor into the Congressional Record, the document that reflects the official proceedings of Congress.
Daines welcomes anyone to nominate fellow Montanans for Daines’ “Montanan of the Month” program by calling Daines’ office at 202-224-2651 or by filling out the contact form on Daines’ website: HERE.
The following is the tribute Daines submitted to the Congressional Record to honor Sherm Anderson:
TRIBUTE TO SHERM ANDERSON POWELL COUNTY
Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today I have the distinct honor of recognizing Sherm Anderson of Powell County for his long-standing dedication to Montana’s timber industry, carrying out his family’s entrepreneurial spirit in his hometown of Deer Lodge and for selflessly serving the greater Powell County community. His perseverance in his personal and professional life helps the State of Montana maintain its vital wood products industry.
Sherm’s dedication to healthy Montana forests first began when he was a teenager driving a logging truck. Years later, he and his wife Bonnie went on to form the Sun Mountain Lumber forest products company, which employs hundreds of people and serves as the Treasure State’s largest lumber mill and North America’s largest finger joint plant. Sun Mountain Lumber plays a vital role in the Deer Lodge Valley economy and continues to have an impact across the state. Earlier this year, Sherm purchased R-Y Timber, a Livingston, Montana, sawmill, that was shuttered following a devastating fire – and saved even more logging jobs. Montanans are lucky to have this forest products powerhouse right in our backyard.
When it comes to Sherm’s accomplished work history, he served in the Montana State legislature, branched out into real estate and construction, operates a fitness center, contributes to a local auto museum, maintains his own 1,200-acre ranch and most recently invested in the town’s old hospital complex in order to renovate it into workforce housing. As Sherm continues to weather the volatility of the timber industry, he understands that collaboration is critical to keeping important wood product jobs viable and also ensuring our forest lands remain healthy for generations to come. It is clear Sherm understands the importance in working with folks from all backgrounds to make southwestern Montana a better place to live and work.
It is my distinct honor to recognize Sherm Anderson for his passion to preserve our shared Montana way of life. The Anderson family has created a multigenerational legacy that promotes fruitful forest stewardship. Montana Proud!