OBITIUARIES

Bob Norris, sales manager of Timber Consultants, Eugene, Or., died May 17, 1990, in Eugene. He was 74.

A native of Montana, he entered the lumber business in 1945 after serving in World War II, working for various companies including U.S. Plywood, Eugene, and Fremont Forest Products, Eugene. He left Fremont in the mid-1970s, forming Timber Consultants in 1980 with John Hunter.

Mr. Norris is survived by his widow, Jean, one daughter, one son, one brother, and three grandchildren.

Western Association News

(Continued from page 22) hold office or vote, according to Les Sanders, executive vice president.

Directors and committee members have been named for the coming year. These include Bob Eden, Mike Wilson, Dirk Ettienne, Gary Long, Brooks Schafer Jr., Frank Solinsky and Kathleen Patterson.

Bill Norman heads the insurance trust committee with Mike Yaeger, Bryan Bock and Tom Richert. Phil Larios, William Meek and Bob Patterson are members at large on the executive committee. Embree Cross was elected to the political action committee.

Western Lumber Slowdown

Western lumber production could be offas much as l0o/o by the end of 1990 with more declines to come in 1991.

Mills participating in a Western Wood Products Association survey predicted average reductions of 380/o for l99l production levels. Some 220/o of those responding have already instituted shift or hour reductions.

Hess Expansion Continues

A huge expansion is underway at sister companies Hess Forest Products and Hess Door & Window, Pittsburg, Ca., to keep in line with the 8-year-old companies' 30% annual growth.

Hess Forest Products is consolidating milling operations at a new 80,000 sq. ft. facility at its Pittsburg distribution center. The company has also added its second retail showroom, in San Carlos, Ca., managed by Greg Lynch, and a sales office in Simi Valley, Co., headed by Jeff Osburn. A Simi Valley retail showroom is anticipated for the near future.

Hess Door & Window has purchased Belmont Plywood & Door, Belmont, Ca., retaining the Belmont name as a division of Hess.

Wood Furniture Warms Up

Warmer wood tones to blend with new color trends appeared at the San Francisco, Ca., western furniture

The Merchant Magazine market with more cherry and mahogany and nearly twice as many burl figured woods as in the past two years.

Oak remained the most popular with ash and elm making an appearance. Oiled oak and cool walnut tones topped the color charts with fruitwoods in second place. Light brown and honey tones decreased while dark red, cordovan and burnished brown-black increased, according to Northwest Hardwoods tabulators in Portland, Or.

Although fewer in number than in the past, contemporary styles were close to 500/o followed by American colonial, early American and federal, English, French, Italian and Oriental.