Texas association notches 96th annual

EXAS' reputation for doing things in a big way was well maintained by the 96th annual convention of the Lumbermen's Association of Texas. Held in Fort Worth, the gathering had an attendance in the thousands, a strong and well-received program plus an outstanding exhibition of industry products and services.

More than $1.25 million in sales were tallied on the exhibition show floor by the 325 firms represented. All of the booths in the show were sold out. While each individual sale was down in dollar amount from last year an increased number of sales pushed this year's dollar total ahead of last year.

Following opening ceremonies,

April 16, the lead off convention speaker, D. Bill Stewart, described a new basic materials estimating program using a TI-50 hand held computer that enables dealers and others to produce quicker, more accurate materials estimates.

The plan divides a home, including basement and/or second story, into numbered squares. Information is entered via input items, which the computer then calculates and prints out on a program tape that carries values for the numbered items. Industry observers have uniformly urged dealers to investigate the program as an aid to estimating.

Story at a Glance

Strong show sales and program housing developments and forecasts... Henry Herder new president . . . next year: San Antonio, April 29.30 and May 1.

John Martin, exec. v.p. of the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association, Washington, D.C., then gave an interesting overview of the Capitol scene and some observations of industry trends. He views Reaganomics favorably and notes behind-the-scenes cost trimming and fewer federal regulations as being strong factors in reducing housing costs. He urged LAT members to support the Lugar Bill in Congress as it could result in up to 300,000 additional housing units in 1982.

He also described Sears' increasing role in housing finance, home building and real estate, and noted that oil companies have been buying ailing savings and loans for tax write offs. Martin also observed that contractor yards are increasing their efforts in the d-i-y field. He said that Wickes may be only one of several large firms to suffer in the current housing depression.

Inspirational speaker Jeannie Robertson, a 6'2" former Miss America contestant, told dealers "not to worry about what you can't change; accept it." She said dealers should keep a sense of humor as they change business problems into opportunities.

Next day, Richard Carver, Mayor of Peoria, Il., and a lumber dealer there. as well as a member on the President's Commission on Housing, described the background oftoday's housing situation and noted factors that contributed to todav's different situation. The commission's report, expected to bereleased in early May, recommends reorgan-

Barrelt. (3) Joe Butler, Sr., Andy Anderson, and his granddaughter, Allene Anderson. (4) Max Welch, Jim Wallace, Joe Breeden, Rick Cunningham. (5) Kevin Smith, Mary & Walter Terry. (6) J.B. Howard, Joe Butler, Jr., Tom Hanover. (7) Carl Thibodaux, Neil Bowie. (8) David Gillian, Bob Goodwin, Joe Walker. (9) Football All-Pro Bert Jones, Jim Garner. (10) Jack Trimble, Linda Sanders. (11) Kaare Remme, Cassity Jones. (12) Gene Bennett, Brian Wier, E.Z. Hunt, Roy Deering. (13) Tom & Lana Robinson, Jerry Eichler. ('14) Alton McDonald. Pete Smart. Jack Beene. (15) Sharon & Tom Roarick. (16) Alan Gray, Sandra Tyrone, Donna & Benny Brown. (17) Buddy & Edye Holubec, Sharon and Ben Macuk. (18) Mark Puckett, Dennis & Ann Heidmann, Bob Guthrie. (19) John Starling, Jr., Glen Allgood. (20) Corky & Lisa Slayton. (21) Glenn Steele, Linda Roper, Kenneth Babcock. (22) Bill & Louise Luther, Kent Forrest. (23) Dan & Marge Stehling, Bill Butler. (24) Dorace Klatt, Dolores Butler, Wilma Gillion, lmogene Klare.

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