John Besse, Founder of Besse Forest Products Group, Dies at 86

John Besse, founder of Besse Forest Products Group (Gladstone, Mich.), passed away on July 27 at the age of 86. After serving in the Navy and graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1950 and receiving a master's degree in forestry from North Carolina State College in 1952, Besse worked in the veneer industry, starting his own company, Northern Michigan Spliced Veneer Company, with his wife Melissa in 1966. Eventually the Besse Forest Products Group was established, which now includes 18 companies. Besse received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for manufacturing in the Wisconsin and Upper Michigan region in 2001 and was featured on the Discovery Channel in 2002. Besse also made significant contributions to local organizations.

"My dad was a great man," said his son Greg Besse, now CEO/president and owner of Besse Forest Products Group, in a statement. "He's going to be sadly missed not only by his family, but by the Besse Forest Products Group and the hardwood industry."