Obituaries

Thomas H. Mitchell, owner of the Tom Mitchell Lumber Co., New Smyrna Beach and Deland, Fl., died in Daytona Beach, Fl., on Nov. 9, 1983, at 81.

Active in the lumber business for more than 38 years, he was a Partner in Mitchell and Alexander, DaYtona Beach, before he formed his own company in 1958. He served as President of the Florida Lumber and Building Materials Dealers Association and was active in many community organizations.

Mr. Mitchell is survived by his widow, Harriette, a son, a daughter and seven grandchildren.

Hardware

(Continued from page I2) who provide only the materials and labor involved in making it and none of the supporting marketing aids.

We need to ask ourselves if we are killing some of the geese that lay the golden eggs. At which price are we buying price?

Wholesalers rightly jealously guard their positions in our predominantly two-step distribution channel. The reality of warehouse home centers and K-Mart and other giant retailers with direct buying relationships with many major manufacturers has become a major issue-not only with wholesalers, but also with other retailers in the industry. Reason for addressing this issue is not to accuse-or blame -and certainly not to arouse emotions.

The appeal is to reason. Is what is happening for the long term goodor out ofperceived short-term necessity? Will it stand atest of fairness to all the retail and wholesale members of a manufacturer's customer base?

This issue could be most critical to the long-term strength ofnational factory brands in our channel. No retaileror wholesalerwants to play the fool's role in the drama of offprice retailing. Neither should he want to give up the great merchandising asset of leading branded goods'

Great Spring Hardware Sale

Dates for the annual Great Spring Hardware Sale are March 29 through April2l.

Sponsored by the National Retail Hardware Association, the promo' tion will be aimed at the do'it-yourself customer. National multi-media advertising including tv and customer incentives will be used by participating manufacturers.

Schlage Lock Co., Black & Decker and the Cooper Group are among those taking part.

Traff ic Association Annual

Now an ICC licensed motor transportation property broker, the Southern Hardwood Traffic Association will stress its response to truck transportation's expanding role at its 63rd annual meeting, March 7-8, at The Peabody Hotel, Memphis, Tn.

Dale K. Craig, lst vice chairman, American Trucking Association, Washington, D.C., and president of Craig Transportation Co., will speak at the joint luncheon with the Lumbermen's Club of Memphis on Thursday, March 8.

The membership and business meeting with reports and election of officers, the president's reception, and a panel of speakers from the Truck Brokers Association, rail intermodal services and the lumber industry will be part of the meeting which is open to all persons concerned with the costs and conditions of moving lumber and related wood products between points in the U.S. and Canada, according to Jon Sig Gudmundsson, Northland Corp., LaGrange, Ky., president of the association.

Dealers Go to Washington

"What effect will a projected federal budget deficit of $185 billion in 1984 have on interest rates, our housing industry and the current yet delicate economic recovery?" will be the theme for the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association's l2th annual Conference with Congress, March 14-15, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.

On the first day Senator Robert Dole (R-Ks.) and Senator John Tower (R-1\.) will be keynote speakers.

Great Worx

Thank you, thank you, thank You. The December issue of Building Prducts Dr'8es! is super.

William D. Swein

President

Wholesale Building Materials Management Co. Leland, Ms.

Home Center Seminars

The 12 business management seminars scheduled for the 1984 National Home Center Show, March I l-14, at Chicago's McCormick Place, will deal with the show's general theme, "In Search of Excellence," according to William Fishman, seminar director.