Leo Samuel founded the company that would become The Standard in 1906 with the needs of his community — Portland, Oregon — foremost in mind.

Leo, a German immigrant, arrived in New York City in his early teens and, like many of his peers, began a slow move westward. After living in a number of towns and gaining experience in a number of businesses, he eventually settled in Portland. This was at the turn of the century and the city was booming due mostly to the bounty of 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. Remember, this was before modern safety standards and equipment so injuries were commonplace. It was also before Social Security and workers' compensation, so an injury (or worse) could wreck a family's finances and their future.

Leo saw an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of his hard working 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 could not be settled quickly nor could representatives provide personal service to customers.

His company — which localized these important services — 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 9 million customers. As for Portland, where our home offices are still located, we are the largest private 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, but our reputation and our legacy of supporting the communities that sustain us has not. As for Leo Samuel's legacy, some people attribute Portland's nickname — the City of Roses — to his love of roses and willingness to share them from his garden. That's why employees in our home offices get a rose on their birthday.