uolles

Hank Bockus, 76, former coowner of Gordon White Lumber Co.. Oklahoma City, Ok., died of heart failure Jan. I in Oklahoma City.

Born in Ohio, he was a WWII veteran before joining Gordon White Lumber in 1949 in wholesale lumber sales. In 1964, he purchased the company with Fred James after Gordon White died. They eventually sold the wholesale business and continued to operate five Oklahoma retail yards, including four Gordon White yards and one Tuttle Lumber Co. vard.

Mr. Bockus began sellin! his interest in the yards in the early 1990s to his son Henry. He continued to work part-time for the company.

Tillman Little, 68, retired sales mgr. of Hankins Lumber Sales, Winona, Ms.. died Dec. 22 in Memphis, Tn.

Born in Carroll County, Ms., he worked for Phillips Building Supply, Grenada, Ms., before joining Howell Lumber Sales, Grenada. as sales mgr. He later became sales msr. f"or Hankins Lumber, retiring in tig6. tn 1997 he worked part-time for Thomas Wood Preserving, Elliott, Ms.

Florida Independent Gets Involved

The owners of Bluff s Ace Hardware, Jupiter, Fl., had their first "brush with the law" nine years ago, and since then the small retirement village has never been the same.

Driving into town one day, Paddie Schlueter noticed a graffiti-covered wall and wondered what kind of impression it gave visitors. So, she called the police and asked if her new business could donate some free paint to cover up the vandalism.

Out of those first buckets the police department's "Brush with the Law" program was born, a program to which the store still contributes paint and other supplies.

"We always thought we should give back to the community, and especially to the police, who have always responded when we've needed them" she says. "We told the police that whenever they need something, just give us a call, and they do."

The department recently honored Don and Paddie Schlueter with a citizen letter of appreciation. "Our community is dense with hardware stores and home centers," says Don. "There are five competitors within seven miles of the store, all offering quality products. Our strong relationship with the community gives us the edge over the competition."

The Schlueters are active voices for children in the community, lobbying for a skateboard park and helping to raise money to buy bike helmets for children who can't afford them. They offer the store as a safe place for children to hang out, enjoy the friendly atmosphere and use the tools to repair their bicycles.

"As these kids grow older, they'll one day be our customers, employees, or both," explains Don.

"I told one kid who's been coming in here since he was 8 years old that I'd better see him in here working when he turns 16," Paddie adds. "He came in the day of his birthday ro get a job, and he's been here almost a year."

Build1ng Materials Market

ACE HAHDWARE, True Value, Servislar, Coast to Coast. HWI and Our Own Hardware dealers converged on Central Florida for their co-ops' annual winler LBM markets staged back{o-back-lo-back early last month. Among the exhibitors Jan. 8-9 attheAceshow: (1)TimPlunkett,SteveLindquist,JetfTurpin. (2) Paul Turner,Henry Thompson, Bruce Palmer. (3) Val Nielsen, Vince Mast. (4) Dadene Mclntyre. Leir Aquilanti. (5) Don Ayliffe. (6) Barbara Inman, David Woody. (7) Gale Crement. (8) Teni Adair, Patrick Murphy. (9) Dave Luce, Dennis Raymond ('10) Brian Hendren. (11) Bill Lawson. (12) Clarence Young, Jim Watson, Larry Reasoner. (13) Jim Cumqings (14) Tony Jarvis, Larry Wagner. (15) John Jones 1tO1 Kay & tiilt Hurst.

(1 7) Gandy Stubblelield.

(See preceding pages for photos on the TruServ and HWI shows)