the lonG vIew pArtner spotlIGhts

People+Place Sponsor Pauline and Bob Kirchner

With their sponsorship, the Kirchners express their appreciation of Longview, where they’ve lived more than 50 years and raised three children.

BoB Kirchner, then A top executive for Dow Chemical managing its plant in Kalama, Washington, got the bad news only a few months after moving to the Pacific Northwest.

“They were determined to shut the plant down, he said. “This was the early 1970s. And a couple of us in senior management put our heads together and said, ‘Instead of shutting it down, why not sell to us?’”

This bold stroke reinvigorated the plant, soon to become Kalama Chemical, and established the Kirchners as fixtures of Longview social life, community and church volunteering and, eventually, philanthropy.

“I just loved the friendliness of it,” said Pauline, who’d met Bob in her native Albuquerque, New Mexico. “I had 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds and Bob was traveling so much, I got to know wonderful people, and almost immediately.”

The Kirchner’s previous home, earlier in his career with Dow Chemical, was in San Francisco’s East Bay. Their move to Kalama / Longview began with house hunting. “We ended up in the Cedar Gates area, high up on Columbia Heights, where we made a ton of friends,” recalled Pauline. “And we could afford it!” added Bob. “As you went higher up the hill, the price would drop by a thousand dollars at a time.”

Today the Kirchners enjoy one of the best views in Longview, and are often seen walking Lake Sacajawea in the center of town.

“I can’t think of a better place to live than here,” Bob said.

The Long View Project would be impossible without the financial and creative support of our sponsor partners. During the coming year the Reader will feature brief profiles of these partners — highlighting their relationship to Longview and interest in its history.

People+Place Sponsor Richelle Gall

With her sponsorship, Richelle Gall celebrates the closeness of this community, and congratulates the City of Longview on its 100th birthday.

here’s A fun fAct most people are surprised to learn: I was born in Japan. Both of my parents proudly served in the United States Air Force, and my dad later switched to U.S. Army. They were stationed in Japan when I entered the family. I was the last of four children, but I was unexpected, as my mother found out late in her pregnancy she was expecting twins!

My twin sister followed in my parents’ footsteps and decided to serve our country in the United States Air Force, as well. Yes, I am proud to say I was a military brat. One of my dad’s final stops was near Fort Lewis, where he decided to set down roots in the small town of Tenino, Washington. I finished my last two years of high school there. Sadly, duty called and Dad was relocated to Knoxville, Tennessee, shortly after I graduated and later retired after 32 years of serving our great country. Richie, my husband of nine years, grew up in White Pass, Washington. Together, we have three wonderful children, ages 17, 6 and 7. Richie is employed by a water filtration company where he serves as an outside salesman. We both enjoy working in exciting careers revolving around sales and people. In 2015 I went to work for a State Farm agent, where I was introduced to the insurance business and fell in love with helping people understand insurance. Deciding that I wanted to have my own agency, I contracted with COUNTRY Financial in 2017. I love being my own boss and I am very happy to represent COUNTRY, a company with excellent products and competitive rates. The company has a strong financial statement, and is ranked A+ for superior financial strength. They are a company that cares about their agents and their customers, and I feel blessed to be a part of it.

I decided to focus on the life insurance side of my business because life insurance, I’ve learned, helps families through their greatest time of grief, and it is a goal to insure as many people as I can in this amazing community. Our family now lives in Onalaska, Washington. My insurance customers reside in both Lewis County and in the Longview area, and I couldn’t be happier to be a part of two amazing communities. After joining a small networking breakfast group five years ago, I grew to love Longview because of the closeness of this community. The way people look after each other really impresses me. That’s exactly why I moved my primary office to Longview. Thankfully, my business is successful and growing. I like to tell my potential customers, “I am willing to help, no matter what your circumstances might be.”

So, sincere CONGRATULATIONS Longview on turning 100 years old. Here’s to the next 100!