uones

Derell Hudgeons, 52, division

mgr. at Capital Lumber, Lubbock, Tx., died ofcancer Sept. 19 in Lubbock.

A native of Lubbock, he joined sales at Sunlight Enterprises in 1975. In 1980, Capital Lumber acquired Sunlight, and he stayed on to become sales manager and division manager.

He was named Capital's manager ofthe vear in 1996.

Co-op Merger On Track

Hardware Wholesalers Inc. and Our Own Hardware have developed a transition team to guide the merger of the two co-ops.

Most importantly, the group determined that the computer systems used by Our Own members apparently can communicate with HWI's mainframe.

A SKU comparison also is underway; 89 of the top 100 vendors for each co-op are common. Our Own's private brand Supermix paint will continue to be offered.

The group decided to maintain the Our Own advertising circular program though June when it will give way to a transition plan blending the two coops' ad programs.

HWI manned a booth at Our Own's market last month in Minneapolis, Mn., while Our Own members were encouraged to attend the HWI market in Indianapolis, In., the following weekend.

Graders Make Their Mark

Union Camp, Meldrim, Ga., won as best overall team at the 6th annual Timber Products Inspection grader contest at Cox Wood Preserving, Orangeburg, S.C.

STAR COOLERS ate key to the Sunds Defibrator handling system installed along wih a 9tt.-wide sander, he largest ever built by Kimwood, at Del-Tin Fibe/s MDF plant under construction near El Dorado, Ar. A ioint venture between Temple-lnland Forest Producls and Deltic Timber Corp., the tacility should c-ome on line by the end of first quarter 1998 with a prqecled initial capacity of 150 million sq. tt.

National Dealer Association Installs New Oflicers

Carl Tindell, president and owner of Tindell's, Knoxville, Tn., became immediate past chair of the National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association as he passed the gavel to successor Larry McFadden, president of Fairfax Lumber & Hardware, Fairfax, Ca.

Other officers installed during NLBMDA's 8lst annual convention at The Breakers in West Palm Beach, Fl.: chair-elect Jesse Brand, Brands, Inc., Columbus, In.: vice chair Thomas D. Ross, Gilcrest/Jewett Lumber, Des Moines, Ia.; treas. Robert McClure, McClure Lumber Co., Charlotte, N.C., and pres./sec. Gary Donnelly, NLBMDA.

TENNESSEE DEALER Carl Tindell (right), Tindell's, Inc., Knoxville, hands the chaimanship of the National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Associalion to Lany McFadden, Fairfax Lumber & Hardware, Fairfax, Ca.

Donnie Anemaet, East Alabama Lumber, Lafayette, Al., was recognized as best overall grader among the 80 participants. Individual test winners were: Bruce Kicklighter, Union Camp, written test-dimension and written test-RED/ boards; Robert Washington, West Ashley Lumber, Cottageville, S.C., visual testRED/boards; John Grant, GeorgiaPacific, Varnville, S.C., visual test- dimension, and Donnie Lloyd, Union Carnp, visual test-wide dimension. Runners-up included: Eric Perry, Stone Forest Industries, Orangeburg; Pat Nix, G-P; Joe Woods, Scott Ray and Dale Todd, Union Camp; Gene Burns, International Paper, Johnston, S.C.; Tracy Long, IP, Newberry, S.C.; Jody Blume, Westvaco, Summerville, S.C., and Rocky Murray, Stone Forest Industries, Orangeburg.

For pressure-teated wood hats kilndried after teatnent, call Dean Lumber Co.

The gente conditioning of our steam dry kilns yields exceptional products sudr as Dean Deck, Ddcono fire retardant teated wood, Outdooro wood, Wolmanizedo E)oa" lumber, and teated specialties.