Dennis Weber

Dennis is a lifelong Longview, WA resident whose connection to Mount St. Helens runs deep. He spent his formative years at the Longview YMCA Summer Camp on Spirit Lake's north shore, swimming across the lake, backpacking to nearby alpine lakes, and working maintenance projects with his father. He and his wife spent their first summer together on camp staff, and in March 1980, their church group enjoyed a memorable inner-tube adventure at Timberline—just months before the mountain's eruption devastated the landscape they loved. As a newly elected Longview City Council member that year, Dennis became an immediate expert in FEMA financing and ash management, learning everything from protecting vehicle engines with pantyhose to clearing sediment from the city's water intake system.

Dennis went on to serve 35 years teaching high school social studies, 23 years on city council (including 10½ years as Mayor), and 12 years as Cowlitz County Commissioner before retiring in 2017. During his time as Commissioner, he successfully fought to restore federal funding for Corps of Engineers monitoring of sediment flow down the Toutle and Cowlitz Rivers after learning of damage to the Spirit Lake tunnel. Through his work with the Mount St. Helens/Toutle-Cowlitz River Collaborative, Dennis connected with MSHI's mission and now looks forward to helping restore the tourism, educational, and recreation potential of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.