Obituaries

F.A. "Fred" Widman, 88, longtime partner of Bishop-Roney Lumber Co., Louisville, Ky., died June 26 in Louisville.

His 60-year lumber career included 40 years with Bishop-Roney, which hejoined in 1953.

Bruce Urich, 55, veteran wholesale lumber salesman, died June l7 in Harlingen, Tx.

Born in Kansas City, Ks., he worked for Lumber Products, Kansas City, Mo., as a salesman before joining the sales team at Roberts & Dybdahl, Des Moines,Ia., in 1965.

Stick To Facts For References

Traditionally employers have cooperated with companies requesting references for former or present employees, but, after recent court cases, many now fear they may be charged with slander or libel.

Some labor experts caution previous employers to limit information to dates of employment, positions held, salary and attendance record. The following tips are meant as a guide through the pitfalls of references:

/ Stick to facs you can prove.

/ Discuss only documented work behavior.

{ Yerify the caller's identity if contacted by phone.

/ Ask what the job application lists and then confirm or deny information about salary, title, qualifications, length of time worked, etc.

/ Provide no information about the employee's personal life.

/ Never say the currcnt or former employee filed a discrimination claim, even if it's true. This could be illegal retaliation.

/ Avoid all of the above by writing reference letters for good employees leaving the company. Be specific, include only provable facts. Avoid the possibility of a wrongful discharge suit by writing no recommendation letters for unsatisfactory employees being dismissed.

Do-lt-Yourself Products Rising 5.1o/o

Current sales of home improvement products to consumers hit $87.7 billion last year and should rise 5.lVo annually to $112.5 billion in 1999, predicts the Home Improvement Research Institute.

Home improvement products gowth will outpace rctail sales in general, which are forecast to grow 4.8Vo per year to 1999.

According to an institute survey last year of 5,000 households,