Series

Oral history interview with Hillman Lueddemann, Jr.

• 1987-11-20 (Creation)

.1 cubic feet; 1 audiocassette (1 hr., 4 min.) + transcript (27 pages)

This oral history interview with Hillman Lueddemann, Jr., was conducted by Judy Hartman and Craig Wollner on November 20, 1987. The interview was conducted as part of the Portland General Electric Centennial Oral History Series, which marked PGE's 100th anniversary and was used in the writing of the book "Electrifying Eden."

In this interview, Lueddemann discusses his father, Hillman Lueddemann, Sr., including his service on the Portland General Electric board. He then speaks about his own career at PGE from 1964 to the time of the interview in 1987. He discusses beginning his career as manager of commercial development, describes his job responsibilities, and talks about PGE's sales strategies. He talks about PGE's relationship with the community it serves, and how the relationship has changed over the years. He discusses customers' frustration over high rates, PGE's involvement in the Portland Rose Festival, and working with Portland Mayor Neil Goldschmidt and U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield. He talks about the management styles and personalities of PGE presidents Frank Manley Warren and Bob Short. He also discusses the design of the World Trade Center in downtown Portland, where PGE has its headquarters. He closes the interview by sharing his thoughts about the future of PGE.

Copyright for this interview is held by the Oregon Historical Society. Use is allowed according to the following statement: Creative Commons - BY-NC-SA, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/.

• English

Gift of Craig Wollner, 1989 (Lib. Acc. 28418).

The Oregon Historical Society Research Library also holds photographs and documents relating to PGE in Coll 415, the Portland General Electric collection, and Org. Lot 151, the Portland General Electric photographs.

This oral history interview was used in the writing of Electrifying Eden: Portland General Electric, 1889-1965, written by Craig Wollner and published in 1990 by the Oregon Historical Society Press.

Preferred citation: Oral history interview with Hillman Lueddemann, Jr., by Judy Hartman and Craig Wollner, SR 2811, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Forms part of the Portland General Electric Centennial Oral History Series.

Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition.

Sarah Stroman

• Electric utilities--Oregon
• Public relations

• Hartman, Judy (Contributor)
• Wollner, Craig, 1943- (Contributor)
• Portland General Electric Company (Subject)

• Interviews