Venerable Modesto Lumber Closing

The I l4-year-old Modesto Lumber Co., Modesto, Ca., is winding up operations as it hangs onto the hope of a last minute buyer.

The main yard in Modesto is currently liquidating, while the three branch yards were closed in 1990, 1991 and early 1992. President David Bradford resigned in April.

Owner Clarkson Bradford and fellow former president Ray Christiansen have retumed from retirement to help liquidate the company.

The oldestcompany in Modesto, the chain once operated 10 yards and survived such challenges as the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and the Great Depression, during which two employees ran the entire Modesto yard.

But a severe two year construction slump and competition from out-oftown lumbercompanieshavetakentheir toll. Modesto Lumber has lost more than $250,000 so far n 1992.

Its old fashioned style of offering a huge, varied inventory and plenty of customer service may have been its downfall in an age of stocking only what sells and offering minimal service.

Although money troubles make closure seem inevitable, vice president Robert Hayes thinks a rescue is possible. "We have a fabulous management team that we would like to keep intact, but we just don't have enough gas to keep the engine running," he said.

Forestry Grcup Seeks Membels

The Evergreen Foundation, Roseburg, Or., is launching a nationwide member recruitment program targeting lumber wholesalers and retailers.

They hope to become a major source of information on envfuonmental issues affecting the nation's timber supply. The foundation exists to help restore public confidence in forestry and to advance public understanding and support for scientifically based forest policy and forest management, executive director James D. Petersen said.

Evergre en, abi-monthly journal designed to keep members and others abreast of issues and events affecting forestry, forest communities and the forest products industry, is circulated to 53,000 readers. Sample copies are available from Evergreen Foundation, Box222o,Roseburg, Or., or (503) 4791300.

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Show had 83 companies showing in l3l booths to top management and retailers from over 200 companies in seven states.

Door Products Co., Denver, and Potlatch Corp., Lewiston, Id., tied for best single booth with Stark Lumber, Denver, awarded honorable mention.

Best double booth award went to Century Supply, Denver, with Brookhart's Wholesale Roofing, Ft. Collins, Co., receiving honorable mention. Best multiple booth award went to Boise Cascade Corp., Denver; honorable mention to Georgia Pacific, Denver.

Gordon Harbert and Herb Else, Harbert Lumber Co., Grand Junction, Co.; Mary Hartung, Thatcher Building Supply, Thatcher, Az., and Bruce Ellis, Roswell Lumber Co., Roswell, N.M., were judges.

Cashdrawing winners were Jim Wooley, Barnett Co., Denver, and Bob Olson, Franktown Lumber Co., Franktown, Co. The show was held at the I.Q. Hammons Trade Center, Denver, March 19-20.