#January 19, 1917
#OTD Leo Drey, American #Timber magnate, #Conservationist, & #Philanthropist, is born.

Leo loved #Nature. He devised a way to harvest individual #Trees w/out harming his commercial #Forest.

Leo acquired 160,000 acres of the #Ozarks to create #PioneerForest, which he gifted to #Missouri in 2005. His foundation protects natural areas.

Leo's #Voicemail greeting was,

"I'm out planting a forest. Please leave your name & number, & I'll try to get back to you before it matures."