Obituarles

Ewell M. 'Buddy" Rawles, 68, vice president and treasurer of Rawles-Aden Lumber, Suffolk, Va., died March 3, 1992,in Norfolk, Va.

A native of Portsmouth Va., he worked in sales for Addington-Beaman Lumber Co., Norfolk, before starting his own wholesale office, E. M. Rawles Lumber, in 1957. In 1959 he merged with Virginia Oak Flooring Co.'s Petersburg, Va., distribution yard run by Alan Aden. They formed Rawles-Aden Lumber, later adding the Suffolk office.

Everette Cupit, 65, director of purchasing for Causeway Lumber Co., Fort Lauderdale, Fl., died of lung cancer March 3,1992, in Miami Lakes, Fl.

Born in Crowville, La., he moved to Florida in 1947, joining Bailey Lumber Co., South Miami. In 1968 he became purchasing director for Mack Industries, Hol lywood, Fl., and joined Causeway in 1972.

Mr. Cupit was l98l-1982 president of thc Florida Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association, 1982 FLBMDA Lumbermanof the Yearand past president of the Oreater Miami Hoo-Hoo Club.

Robcrt Morrie Jr., 6l , president of Durham Building Materials, Jacksonville, Fl., died Feb, 5, 1992, in Jacksonville.

Born in Jacksonville, he joined his father's firm, Carolina Lumber Co., Jacksonville, in the late 1950s, purchasing Durham Building Materials in 1969.

Joseph Clay 'J.C.' Hebert, 71, president of West Side Materials, Port Allen, La., died Feb. 19, L992,in Baton Rouge, La.

Mr. Hebert joined the just-founded company in 1946 and remained active on a daily basis until surgery last summef.

Richard E. "Bill Duerr,78, owner of Duerr Lumber Co., Louisville, Ky., died Feb. 14,1992, in Louisville.

A lifelong resident of Louisville, he started his own company in 1954 and concurrently represented Lebanon Oak Flooring Co. in the region.

Phony G radestam p Convictions

From an exclusive source, Building Products Digest recently learned of the convictions of two individuals representing ownership of two North Carolina wood products companies on criminal felony violations of the Federal Trademark Counterfeiting Act of 1984.

Although sentencing involved stiff fines and a five year probation, the Counterfeit Act states: "Section 2320Whoever intentionally traffics or attempts to traffic in goods or services and knowingly uses a counterfeit mark on or in connection with such goods or services shall, ifan individual, be fined not more than $250,000 or imprisoned not more than five years or both, and if a person other than an individual, be fined not more than $1,000,000 ." Additionally, civil judgments against guilty parties allow for the awarding of treble damages to the trademarkowner.

The September 1991 convictions were the result of an extensive FBI probe, initiated in 1986 afterdiscovery by Timber Products Inspection, Inc., of a counterfeit lumber gradestamping scam which infringed on the federally registered trademarks of both TP and the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau. Lumber bearing the bogus gradestamps was significantly below the grade indicated by the gradestamp.

Reached for comment, a representative of Timber Products Inspection, Inc., said, "TP is unable to elaborate at this time, because of its initiation of civil litigation and continued investigation."

"Timber Products Inspection, Inc., will continue its aggressive policy of vigorously protecting the integrity of the TP trademark against counterfeiters and unauthorized users of the TP symbol of quality. TP will continue promoting and protecting the interests of the entire wood products industry by helping other American Lumber Standards Committee approved agencies in cases involving trademark infringement and misuse," the spokesman continued.

Earth Day Celebration ldeas

Earth Day April22 is not for environmentalists only. Lumber and building material retailers can use it as an opportunity to promote the environmental stewardship of the forest products industry.