Lester Anderson

Random Lengths, which covers the wood products industry, was founded in 1943. Lester E. Anderson began his association with it in 1956 and by 1964 was sole owner and publisher. The Eugene, Oregon-based Random Lengths grew to become the leading market information service for North America’s wood products market under Anderson’s leadership and direction. He was a pioneer in the rapid delivery of newsletters to paying subscribers (NL/NL 5/15/00). In the early 1970s, he developed a service that used the Telex machine to provide subscribers with “upon release” delivery of Random Lengths’ timely information.

Born in Portland, Anderson was educated at the University of Oregon and received the Silver and Bronze stars and two Purple Hearts during his service in the U.S. Army during World War II. Anderson’s public service included two terms as mayor of Eugene and a term on the Eugene City Council. He served on many governmental, community and university boards throughout his career. He was instrumental in fundraising for the construction of performing arts centers in Eugene and Aspen, Colorado.

He lived in Aspen after his 1986 retirement, but he continued as an editor and reporter for Random Lengths until 1997. During his retirement, he became involved with Aspen Center for Physics and served on the Financial Committee, as well as a General Member and Honorary Member.