Forest Family Dynasty
By Anna Moore
Wood isn ’ t just a product of work for some in the business . For the Hamer and Plaugher families , it ’ s a livelihood and a dynasty .
“ I was born with sawdust in my veins , as was my father and others whose livelihood depended on this unique hardwood industry here in what I describe as one of the most thriving forests in the world — in the heart of Appalachian ’ s finest hardwood forest ,” Steve Hamer says .
Hamer is among the fourth of five generations of Hamers in the forest products industry in West Virginia . His greatgrandfather , John Hamer , worked at a logging camp in the early 1900s for a company called Prendergast where he met his wife , Sally , who was the camp cook . Their son , James Prendergast Hamer , later founded the J . P . Hamer Lumber Company , which grew to seven sawmills , two truck flooring plants and several dry kiln locations . J . P .’ s son , James C . Hamer , worked for his father ’ s business before the lumber company was eventually sold . Three years later , the Jim C . Hamer Company was founded , and the company has been thriving since .
Today , Steve and his son , Stephen Hamer , continue to work alongside the family at Jim C . Hamer Co . Steve is the CEO and president of the company and the vice president of Hamer Pellet Fuel . While his career path may have been
Steve and Stephen Hamer .
decided for him , Steve says he didn ’ t always want to work in the family business .
“ It ’ s funny how things work out with me being the youngest of three kids and ending up making a career here in the family business ,” he says . “ I never thought that would happen , but I ’ m glad it did and feel so blessed to have had the opportunities afforded to me over the many years working in this unique industry .”
A similar inevitability happened to Tom Plaugher , vice president of operations for Allegheny Wood Products , Inc . When he started engineering school at West Virginia University ( WVU ) years ago , it didn ’ t take him long to realize he didn ’ t want to work in an office setting .
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE