Page 13 - Georgia Forestry - Fall 2017

Story by Ray Glier
Photos by Raftermen Photography
Lee Rhodes’ office is a small wood-frame structure that sits behind the house
where he was raised in Siloam. It could serve as a museum for the family forestry business.
He spreads out on his desk four black and white photographs of his grandfather Lee’s sawmill operation in the 1940s. On a wall are weekly checks from 70 years ago made out to employees for $11 to $12. On the same
wall is a large, green sign that commemorates his father Lee’s 50 years in the timber business. It was put up 15 years ago.
Rhodes’ desk, by the way, is covered in paper, glorious paper, made from trees, like the thousands that surround his home and office.
But there is one piece of paper on that desk he has to pay particular attention to, a piece of paper that determines whether this museum — and his busi- ness — stay open. That piece of paper, of course, is his ad valorem tax bill.
“I have to think about how to pay that every morning, first thing,” Rhodes said.
So, when you ask Rhodes about the flurry of mergers and acquisitions in Georgia’s timber industry the last four years, and particularly in 2017, he spreads his arms wide as if he is a welcome mat.
“As long as there are healthy markets, I don’t care,” said Rhodes, who is a
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