LMA heads for the hills

|/! O EAST. young man, was the \ll crv for tnrs veai-s annuat convention of the Lunrber Merchants Association ol Northern California as they headed over the High Sierra to Reno. Nv.. for their 39th convening of the group. Following the golf and tennis tournamenls that traditionally begin the activities, and a manufac- turer-distributor cocktail reception in the MGM Grand Hotel. where the convention was held. LMA-ers took in the spectacular " llello Flollywood Ilello" show. held in the hotel's enormous theatre restaurant.

Business sessions began next morning, May 14, with President Herb Eaton reviewing LMA's wide ranging activities for its nrembers, including the growing effectiveness of the State Legislative Day, a new political action activity. Initiated recently by exec. v.p. I-larry Mendenhall in an effort to protect dealer interests at the state level, the progranr shows signs of paralleling the success of the nationwide Conference With Congress, upon which it is patterned.

Following the good news in the treasurer's report that all is well in

Story at a Glance Marketing and manage- ment key programs

... success of LMA credit union reviewed. . . Clyde Strouss elected new president. next year's convention: San Diego.

the dollars and cents dept., the annual elections were held. with the following slate approved by the membership:

President Clyde Strouss lst v.p. Don McCann

2nd v.p. Bruce Pohle

Treas. Merle Mensinger

Exec. v.p. Harry Mendenhall

In recognition ol his many years of service to the dealer organization, Bob Butcher was named to the post of director-at-large.

Gordon Knott then presented a report on the status of the credit union that LMA began last year. LMA members are justly proud of the accomplishnrents of their managing officer, Harry Mendenhall, who was the driving force behind establishnrent of the credit union. It was the first in the country to be set upbya lunrber and building ntaterial dealcrs' association.

Off to a good start in its first year, the credit union paid a six percent dividend; the membership goal of 300 was exceeded by 200 members: the assets are now approximatelv $165,000 with loans exceeding $ 146.000: and more enrployees are expected to be taking part in the benefits to be

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KI{0TTS THBEE at lumber convention included, l-r, lll Gordon Knott, brother Bob, visiting from Australia, and "Ham" Knott. Both Gordon and his dad "Ham" are LMA past presidents. l2l Jerry Wilson, Tom Ingham, Duane Bennett, Len Viale. l3l "Buzz" Sarvinski, Paul Herrleldt, Art Bond and "Bud" Robey. [4] Dinny Waters [51 Nilty and Betty Gay, Dave and Diane Guthery. [6] Bill McClave. l7l Andy Anderson, Mike Mensinger. l8l Lyle Schafer, Bob Babicky. l9l Bill Baird, Don Ward. [01 Lauren MacBride, Les Valentine and Bob Creasy. Illl Larry Keller. Il2l Dick Strong, Don 0'Connor. (l3l Jerry DeCou lll, Joe Mayfield, Bill 0berholser, Merle Mensinger. ll 4l Frank Franciscovich, "Wo0dv" Causl ev.

Onl.t, the l'les/ could take any conrfort from the latest figs. or-t hor"rsing starts: down 2.7'il' in Apr. from Mar. and off' a big 20'1, fronr il 1,gi1t earlier. . . in the West. starts were Llp, to a seasonally adjusled annual pace of 527.000. a 16,6'il, increase over Mar. .

Thenationll figures were 1,749.000 starts on a seasonally adjusted annual basis (still a stron!: rate, ltistoricall.il with single lanrily starts reported at I ,279,000. up l\il,'. nr ultis declinecl l0(1,. the Jan.-Apr. total was the lowest since '76. u hcn housing wirs cnrcrging fronr a serious slunrp.

An increasingly costly supply of $ is widely seen as a drag on housing some think the prime lending rate will hit l3Vz%: some home morlgages in Ca. are already at ll3/q7c . . economists are sharply divided over the future course of the economyasawhole. . . Bankof America forecasts record gains .for the West. a recession elsewhere

Lotrisiana-Paci/'ic is in the process of acquiring lancl in Phoenix f'or a distributiorr center. l'uture sites inclr-rdc Cal i fo rn i a's Sac ra n1 e n to Valley. their new Sorrora dir,. includcs Lorenz Lunrber. Burne1,, Ca.l Douglas Lunlber. Truckee, Ca.: and the Pickering operirtions at Keystone rrnd Standard. Ca.

Capital Lumber, Phoenix. has purchased l0 acres of land in Chino. Ca.. and will build a dis- tribution center within 2 years. . Edward Hines Lumber Co. intends to open a nrillwork distribution facilitl, in Phoenix. . Bohemia, Inc. is builcling a $9.2 nrilliorr snrall log nrill at Lincoln. Ca.. expected to be on streanr next spring...

Superior Building Supply, a subsidiary of Palmer G. Leu,is & Co., Auburn, Wa., has acqr,rired North Star Lumber. Kodiak, Ak., no anlount revealecl ...lnternational Forest Products, Chino. Ca.. lras a new 24 x 30 acldition to its Fresno. Ca.. facilitv.

Wickes Corp.. San Diego. intends to acquire the six Cooper's stores in Soutlrern Cafifornia fronr Lone Star Intlustries, for an undisclosed anrollnt of cash... NeimarrReed's Lumber Citv. Northridge, Ca.. has a new slore under construction in Canoga Park. Ca.

Manti Lumber Co., a 70-year old Manti, [Jt., firnr, has been bought by Williams & Smitlt. a locul constructi()n lirnr, no pricc revealecl... Copeland Lumber Yards, Inc., Portlancl. has acquirecl its 8lst r-rnit, b1, purchasing Twin Cit"v Buildirtg Supplias, 1nc., Stanwrrod. Wir.

Aisthorpe Lumber, Chico, Ca., for,rndecl 86 years ago ancl onc of Northern California's f'ew survivors fronr the last centurv. has linally closecl its cloors. to nruke way lbr a $3 nrillion of'fice conrplex. .. Fallbrook Lumber, Fallbrook, Ca.. has 5.000 [)oug fir seedlings. purchased f'ronr Simpson Timber, it plans 1rl give away for local beautification.

The western lunrber industry operaled at 931il' ol' practical capacity in Mar.. up fronr Feb.'s 88.21,1,.. American Plvwood lssr. has openecl its ncw 34.000 sq. ft. headquarters bldg.. Tac()r1'rir . Wa.. ird.iaccnt to its research center. the 3-story bldg. is a showcase of' nrodern nonresidential plywood construction svstenrs...

Bendix Corp. hls lcquircd Scovill Mlk. Co.'s Caradco div. (wood windows & sliding doors). E.B. Yant'e.v Lumber. Madera, Ca., (a sawnrill) and Bass & Co.. l Kentucky nroulding & nrillwork distribr-rtor lkrr about 53-5 nrillion...

Paci.lic Ltrmber Co.. San Frlncisco, plans 1o acquire Stood-v Co., Citl, of Indr-rstry, Ca.. a nretals llrm. ftrr about $19 nrillicrn. . Lone Star Industries lras agreed in principle to buy Porlland Cement ql' Utah lor approx. $35 nrillion. .

Johnston Hardwood. 1rc'.. has nrovecl I'rom Huntington Park to a new ,vard & oftlce in Cerritos, Cit. Flintkote Suppl.v has a new ylr rd under c()nstrLl cti()n in Santa Paula. Ca.. with building for their Bakersfielcl. Ca., unit set to begin aboLrt July l. .

Anterican Timber Products. Oklahoma City, Ok., has openecl a new of'tlce in Brighton. Co.. closing its Denver office.. Rothermel Lumber & Supplies. Sartta Paulir. Ca., plans to builcl a 6.000 sq. ft. conrbination office/storage bldg., contractor is San Antonio Pole Construclion Co...Dant & Russell has est. a new exl)ort lunrber operation to lrandle salcs to Japan. .

Despitc widely circulatccl rumors. Phillips Petroleunt says it has no "present plans" to acquire stock in Crown Zellerbach, Szrn Francisco.

H.M. "Pete" Niebling, 47. has been named exec. v.p. of the North American Wholesale Lumber Association. replacing the late J.J. "Jack" Mulrooney. Niebling had been Western Msr.