In 1906, a German immigrant named Leo Samuel founded the company that would become The Standard, keeping the needs of his community — Portland, Oregon — foremost in mind.

Mr. Samuel arrived in New York City in his early teens and, like many of his peers, began a slow move westward. He eventually settled in Portland at the turn of the century, as the city was enjoying an economic boom thanks to the abundance of nearby natural resources.

In those days, timber was king. There was plenty of work to be found but the jobs in the timber industry were hard and dangerous. At that time, on-the-job injuries were commonplace because there were no modern safety standards or equipment. It was also before Social Security and workers' compensation, so an injury (or worse) could wreck a family's finances and their future.

Mr. Samuel saw an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of his friends and neighbors. He formed the Oregon Life Insurance Company to better meet the needs of local customers at a time when most insurance companies were located on the east coast. Because of the distance involved, claims payments were slow and personal service wasn’t available.

His company — which brought these services closer to the customer — began to grow steadily. As the years passed, the company's conservative investment strategies and strong reputation ensured continued success as the country faced world wars, economic upheavals and diminishing natural resources.

Today, The Standard has offices across the country and more than 3,400 employees. We provide financial services and products to approximately 8.5 million customers. As for Portland, where our home offices are still located, we are the largest non-government employer downtown. The Standard is also one of the top corporate donors to local nonprofits serving those in need and organizations working in the arts and education.

Much has changed from those early days devoted to serving the residents of the Pacific Northwest, but our reputation and our legacy of supporting the communities that sustain us have not.