Editor's note: This article was produced by the Economic Alliance of Lewis County and included in the the December 2023 Economic Report in the Dec. 23 edition of The Chronicle. The Alliance publishes the monthly special section within The Chronicle.
Buck Hubbert was a mountain of a man, responsible for decades as a business leader in the community, a fierce fighter for Lewis County economics and a gentle giant at times with an easy smile and welcoming manner.
Charles Allen “Buck” Hubbert was born on Nov. 27, 1943 and passed peacefully Dec. 6, 2023. Born in Tacoma to parents John and Margorie Hubbert. He was an Eagle Scout and graduate from Olympia high school, class of 1962, ac-cording to his obituary.
He has been a resident of Chehalis, Washington for over 60 years. He started working at Tires Inc. in 1962 and purchased the business in 1969 with his business partner Bill McWilliams. He took full ownership in 1985 where the business remained in the Hubbert fam-ily until 2019.
Buck believed it was important to give back to the community. He was a previous president of the Economic Development Council and a chairman on the Industrial Commission, as well as served 25 years as a board member at Security State Bank.
Over the course of Buck’s life, he was recognized for his commitment to the community and local philanthropy. He was the first recipient of the EDC Gail and Carolyn Shaw Industry award in 2008 and he received the Outstanding Eagle Scout Award in 2016.
Buck was a world traveler, having visited over 30 countries, and an avid hunter including his greatest hunting achievement being the North American grand slam.
He’s earned a lifetime of achieve-ments, accolades, and awards but if asked, Buck would say he was most proud of his family. Buck is survived by his wife of 36 years Kaye Hubbert, son Ralph and Rogette Hubbert, Ralph’s mom Sandy Hubbert, stepson Will Prince, granddaughter Amanda and Matt Ellis, grandson Jonathan and Maggi Hubbert, and great-granddaughter Hudson Hubbert, his sister Sue and Larry Watilo and their family. He was preceded in death by his parents John and Marjorie Hubbert.
Friends weigh in
Kyle Markstrom, a Port of Centralia commissioner, said, “Buck Hubbert was the example of how a man should serve his church, family, friends and community. His contributions to our community cannot be measured. I had the honor of calling Buck a mentor and will miss his guiding advice.”
Local businessman Brian James Kopa said, “I was lucky enough to get to know Buck. He is by far one of the nicest, kind-est businessmen that I’ve ever met. He will be greatly missed.”
Chehalis City Councilor Daryl Lund said, “So sorry for the loss of Buck. But he was a very great man and made a huge positive difference in our commu-nity helping bring in good paying jobs as chairman of the Chehalis Industrial Commission and providing good paying jobs at his Tires Inc. RIP old friend you will always be remembered in our hearts.”
Chris Judd with the United Way of Lewis County, said, “What an enormous loss for our community. Buck was a legend.”
Former long-time director of the United Way Debbie Campbell said, “So sad to hear of the passing of Buck. He was a devoted family man and steadfast community leader. In my dealings with Buck through United Way of Lewis County, I always found him to have a great sense of humor along with his unparalleled empathy, always being there for others. May the family find comfort and strength in cherished memories and the enduring legacy of a remarkable man.”
The Chehalis Industrial Commission
Buck was a large presence in the Chehalis Industrial Commission, a group that helped form the Economic Alliance of Lewis County (then called the Lewis Economic Development Council — LEDC) back in the 1980s.
The Chehalis Industrial Commission was created by a group of Chehalis-based business leaders in the 1950s in an effort to attract decent-paying jobs to the area. The group sold stock at $50 per share and raised an initial $50,000. A second stock offering in 1957 raised another $50,000, giving the Commission enough to purchase 135 acres just south of Chehalis. From there the Commission continued to grow and attract businesses, but needed a marketing arm to help spread the news that Chehalis was open and ready.
That’s where the Lewis Economic Development Council entered the picture. Encouraged by the Chehalis Industrial Commision, the LEDC formed in 1983 to “encourage business and industrial growth throughout the county,” according to the book “A history of the Chehalis Industrial Commission: A Community-Owned Not-For-Profit (501c3) Group of Friends!” written by local Toledo author Julie McDonald Zander.
For the first decade, the LEDC worked with more than 80 companies to locate in Chehalis, bringing in about 2,300 jobs. The LEDC also assisted in the expansion during that first decade of more than 300 businesses. By 1969 the Chehalis Industrial Commission had attracted industries employing 557 people with an annual payroll of $4 million.
Buck, the former owner of Tires, Inc. in Chehalis, was appointed president of the Commission in 1994, and served as chair into the 2020s.
“We originally bought land and built buildings to bring people to town with good wages,” Buck said in an interview with the Economic Alliance in 2021. “And it hasn’t changed.”
Buck said in the interview the LEDC was formed in part as a marketing arm for the Commission. Buck said the Commission can be “picky” with the businesses it shakes hands with.
“We don’t want a chicken farm in the middle of the port,” Buck said, for example. “We don’t sell our land cheaply or to people who can’t take care of it and they must provide good jobs.”
Buck left a lasting legacy for Lewis County.
