Richard Cottington
(1911-1981)

Richard Cottington 1980

Issues still remained for Cottington concerning the estate, and the future of the construction company. Cottingtons initial plan was to run to finances of the company while Jim Corey handled the operations but Corey was stricly opposed to this and he quickly rallied both Norrine and Anna Wellington to his defense in allowing him to run it exclusively. Cottingtons issue with this was that the construction was run by Wellington money, accounting, tools, management in the past and Cottington wasnt extremely confident in Coreys ability to manage all of it; however Cottington was also mindful of the family connection and decided to bow out of this battle.
Cottington in essence released the construction company to Corey, Corey would buy out the Wellington interest at a fraction of its dollar value, the buy out would be in long term notes, in fact the first note due was re-issued by Cottington for an even longer term at a reduced rate since Corey was unable to pay it. Over the next couple of years, from 1956-1960 in particular, without being asked, Cottington "donated" equipment that had been upgraded and/or replaced from the timber company to Corey for his construction business. Cottington also became known for visiting job sites on a whim and sent leads Coreys way when he was able to, this effort went a long ways in winning the confidence of Jim Corey, and Anna Wellington.
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Norrine Wellington suffered a stroke in 1958 limiting her ability do care for herself, she passed away in 1959.
Vicky Cottington was well liked by Norrine, in fact Norrine was more "chatty" with Vicky often times than she was with Anna, since both she and Vicky were Cornell grads.
Vicky had spent countless hours and days at the estate helping in any way she could after Liams passing in 1956 and her efforts didnt go unnoticed. Anna struggled for 2 years dealing with the loss of her husband but by 1958 had come to appreciate and trust the Cottingtons and in 1959 she went before the Wellington Timber senior staff and endorsed Mr Cottington as CEO and as the financial executor of the Wellington Estate Trust.
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Cottingtons decisions after 1956 would set the course of the future for Wellington Timber for the next 25 years. He created price stability which increased profits, he utilized those profits to retool the timber business and set the course for labor in the company, as production demands went on the increase in the 1960's the company realized further price increases which turned profits higher yet again.
In 1962, Cottington expanded the stock distributions in the company and though it remained a closed corporation, he expanded the number of stockholders and created a larger and more diverse board of directors which brought an infusion of capital into the company allowing it to modify and grow more.
Cottington also did a spin off of some timberland holdings allowing others to utilize the land, this was one of a series of "rents" that Cottington set up with those rents going through the timber company and being paid to the Wellington Estate Trust, he then had those proceeds in diversified investments particularly with stocks in petroleum, technology, industry, and earth moving equipment.
Cottington ended up being trusted implicitly by Anna Wellington, he worked on upgrading and rebuilding parts of the estate, led the way for Anna to have all sorts of rennovations done, all by the friendly resources of Corey construction of course.
Richard Cottington and his wife went beyond the contractual agreement originally set forth by Garren Wellington, the Cottingtons became extended members of the family, they had three children; Madelyne in 1942, Jaquelyne in 1944, and finally a boy in 1949 they named John Garren.
The Wellington Estate and timber company would have never prospered so well had it not been for Richard Cottington, the Wellington Estate Trust remains to this very day in the same model established by Cottington, generations after him, the estate still flourishes.
The Cottingtons attended their first pool party, hosted by Anna Wellington in 1961 and would be regulars at the occasion through the early 70's.
Cottington had more plans for a restructure of the company in the late 1970's as he was progressing in age, however those changed never occured in total as Cottingtons health began to fail as early as 1979. Cottington held on as CEO into 1981 but his health declined rapidly and he passed away that same year. Vicki Cottington passed away in 1990.

The Cottington Kids
Richard Cottington left 2 daughters and a son all of which survive today. Oldest daughter Madelyn married Sir Albert Glaser in 1965 and has a son and daughter as well as 3 grandchildren, all of which reside in Great Britain.
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Cottingtons prodigy child turned out to be Jacky Cottington. Jacky earned a PHd in business finance prior to marrying corporate lawyer Lehman Barrows in 1970. Jacky Cottington Barrows sits on the senior board of directors at Wellington Timber, she is a major player in the company and few things are done in the company without her approval.
Cottington-Barrows also has 2 children; daughter Leigh was born in 1971 and Aaron was born in 1973. Leigh Barrows graduated from law school in 1997 and joined our legal department in 1998.
Aaron graduated from college in 1995 and is a computer programmer/analyst, he's married with 2 young children and currently resides in Switzerland.
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John Garren Cottington named in the tradition of the Wellington legacy ironically had never worked a day for the Wellington company. John is in upper management at a major corporation and has married twice. John has one daughter Lexie by his first marriage and she was born in 1979.
John had 2 more children by his second marriage in Jarrod Micheal born in 1983 and daughter Jamie born in 1987. Jarrod Michael is pursuing a business and finance degree and has expressed interest in the timber company, he may be the next great Cottington recruit.

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Another point of interest is the very few that have ever been the designated leader/CEO of Wellington Timber, there was of course Lannan Wellington the founder and original owner, then the list is as follows:
Garren Wellington (1909-1951)
Sir William Ficks (1951-1956)
Richard Cottington (1957-1981)
Walter Sorrells (1981-1982)
Harold Pateegan (1983-1989)
Thomas Bargeaux (1990----)

The next phase of the Wellington Estate history takes an overview look of Anna Reisa Wellington in her background in the family and some of her most noteable memories and influences on the family history.
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