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HARRY MENDENHATT executive vice president

Lumber Merchonls Associotion of Northern Colifornio

,1546 El Comino Rccl, Sclto 0 lor Alior, Ca. 91022 (,ar51 94r.r617

f GUESS I'm as guilty as the next t goy when it comes to noticing a great job someone has done and then failing to mention it to that individual.

There is one individual to whom every lumber and building material dealer in this nation owes a resounding "thank you.t' His name is TerrY Mullin of Terry Building Centers which is headquartered in Tarzana, Ca.

Last October, Terry was elected president of the National Lumber and Building Material Dealer's Assn, Although I cast no ill comments on previous officers of our national association, Terry inherited a bucket of sticky spaghetti with no ends.

Terry's first task was to complete the reorganization of our national association and provide guidance, goals, and concepts to strive for. It took but a short while for Terry to get the whole team working together for the first time in several years and it is well he did because the efrorts of the team paid off on March 22, when 600-plus dealers from across the nation met on Capital HilI and before the end of that day Senators, Representatives, chiefs of the many agencies, and the nation as a whole, knew that the lumber and building material dealers had had their fill of the constantly rising lumber and plywood prices.

This rnassive undertaking, the march on Capital Hill, must be attributed in part to the guiding hand of Terry Mullin. This year in particular has been one to test the capabilities of any national organization leader. Legislation has continued to pour from the desks of those individuals seeking only a vote rather than what is good for the nation. Terry has appeared before several of the nation's august bodies to present the lumber dealers' views on legislation. He has spent countless hours and his personal funds in an effort to improve the industry for all dealers. Terry has had little time to spend in the management of his own business during this last year.

He has worked with many federated associations to improve, for our benefit, the Occupational Safety and Health Act. He has attended numerous federated association conventions and annual meetings to present to local dealers the views of the national association.

Terry and his committees have spent countless hours studying what the future will hold for the independent dealer. He has been telling this story nationwide in an effort to cause the independent dealer to sit up and take notice. He states that the independent dealer can no longer manage his business by the seat of his pants. He cannot continue to be the counterman, order clerk, truck driver, lumber handler, stock boy, and janitor. If he is going to compete against the multi-yard, national chains, and the conglomerates, he must now manage his business.

He must manage from a throne that is capable of, viewing all facets of the operation and keep them all moving as part of the firm's team plan. If not he will probably be face to face with the bankruptcy chapters. Terry has spent so much of his time and personal funds in our interests yet I have heard few individuals or groups pay public tribute to Terry.

Terry, we want you to know that your great work is not going unnoticed and that our association extends to you a hearty thanks for a job well done.