Gösta Edström was the driving force behind the association's development into an industrial group. Many believed that the forest was insufficient for pulp production at the end of the 1940s, but Gösta Edström did not share this view and was prepared to take matters into his own hands. There was no large amount of money to invest when the plans for a pulp mill in Mönsterås were presented to the board in January 1952. But Södra, thousands of forest owners in the country, and their associations raised share capital of 50 million. In November 1958, the first pulp could be produced.
Fascinating and Creative
Many testify to how fascinating it was to work with Gösta Edström. He was very creative. Sometimes the ideas might not have been entirely realistic—but they were perceived as very inspiring. He had a fantastic ability to engage the members and created a tradition of distributing symbolic silver axes to those who invested money in the association.
Admired Vilhelm Moberg
But the commitment was not only for Södra. He was also active in cultural life and appreciated Vilhelm Moberg to the extent that gatherings with him were arranged at the company. In Södra's own magazine Förbundskontakt, they were allowed by Moberg to publish his short stories. In the Christmas issue of 1966, Älmeboda sotare was published, a text Moberg himself couldn't recall being previously printed.
Honorary Chairman with a Keen Eye
Gösta Edström left the chairman's position in 1973 when the major industrial package from 1966 was completed, and Värö Mill was ready. He continued to work in the background and truly made use of his appointment as honorary chairman. It is said that he often called and sought out people in leadership positions to keep track of developments. And his memory was good. When Christer Segerstéen (chairman from 2010–2015) joined the board in 1991, Gösta Edström took him aside and asked, "Your grandfather and I used to have coffee in the kitchen—do the copper kettles still hang there?" He was informed and gladly reminded people of it.