Profile of a western industry leader

lltHEN the speeches were made UU at Frank Davis' retirement dinner, a common thread ran through them. The same descriptions were repeated: "dedicated," "sincere," "adogged fighter," and "caring." To them should be added "emotional," for it is the emotional commitment to the cause, at whatever stage in his life, that marks the intensity with which Frank engages life.

The photos here were taken at Frank's retirement dinner June 3, at the Biltmore Hotel, Phoenix. Nearly 150 were present, some from as far away as Florida. A number of tributes were made, momentos presented and a handsome new set of golf clubs given to Frank.

His retirement after l8 years as executive vice president of the Arizona Lumber & Builders Supply Association capped the second part of a long and full career and was preceded by a 20 year period as a successful retail lumber dealer in Oregon. Somehow, amidst all else, he found time to be a strong family man, a deacon in his church and to involve himself in civic and community activities directed towards the general betterment of all. The list of committees and positions he held runs to many pages.

Frank is a man of strong opinions and is not reluctant to voice them. As a result, he has sometimes been a controversial managing officer in Arizona, a fact he readily acknowledges. But it marks his attitude toward the industry he loves that he is interested in what is best for it and not in his personal popularity.

The lumber dealer's lost markets is among the most significant changes he's seen occur since World War Two. He notes that in the early post war period the dealer was still the source for everything that went into the construction of a new home. In today's world, specialists and other methods of supplying housing have sharply cut away sizeable chunks of the dealer's former 10090 of the business.

He voices a recurrent frustration at America's failure to provide affordable homes. "We're putting our young people into substandard housing and I'm afraid we're going to see more of this happening," he says.

"I'm concerned at the lack of coordination to reach industry goals in increasing wood use. We're all going in different directions on this and other factors that affect the lumber and building material dealer. " By the year 2000 he feels it is possible that factory built homes, "stamped out on an assembly line," will further erode the dealer's business.

From his experience, Davis feels one state dealer associations, such as Arizona's, are doomed. "Mergers into multi-state groups are inevitable as the association base is declining. Through mergers, closures and the failure of home center type retailers

Story at a Glance

Frank Davis retires as exec. v.p. of the Arizona assn. his views on the most significant changes since WW ll and where we're headed now . . 150 attend retiremenl dinner.

to become involved in lumber and building material associations, the financial and other support is not there to sustain one-state groups as presently formulated," Davis says.

He feels that traditional dealers and home centers will not become more similar and that the gulf between the operating style of the two will increase. Davis does not see home centers becoming involved in either state associations or the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association. "Time has passed 'National' by in bringing in the home center." He is sharply critical of most home center operators for what he sees as "a free ride on our backs," referring to the "unearned" benefits they enjoy from legislative, promotional and other activities performed by dealer associations.

A good deal of his considerable energies over the years has been spent working with the NL&BMDA which he strongly supports. He urges giving long range planning the role he feels it deserves in positioning "National" to better cope with current and future problems. Frank puts forward the hope that "ego-tripping" can be avoided among dealer officers at the national level. "We need to attract the best people to the top jobs, not the most available."

His support of "National" has been extensive and includes being a member of the board qf directors, participation on numerous key committees, sometimes chairing them, plus the presidency of the Building Material Association Executives which represents the 27 federated associations that comprise "National. "

Leadership is a concept that occupies a good deal of his thought on industry matters. "We need real

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GUEST of honor (1) Frank Davis and his wife Maye. (2) Their church group surrounds the Davises (fourth and fiflh from right), including members (far left) Woody and Jan Clark. (3) Frank Davis Jr. & Anita Davis, Joe & Kingsli Vander Lugt, the Davis' daughter. (4) Dean Drake, Jim Stewart, John Turner (5) Sherry Gaylor, current AL

& BSA president Don Hossack. (6) Michael & Teri 0'Malley do a little smooching. (7) Ray Wells, Jim Barlow, Fred Caruso, v.p. Mountain States dealers assn. (8) Harry Mendenhall, v.p. N. Ca. dealers assn., Dav6 Sievenman, (9) Bob Baker, Lauren & Bill Herman. (10) Peggy Barlow. Fran Wells, lleane Schechter, Dona York. (11) Scott &

Lani Gates, Rich & Suzanne Bilby. (12) Juanita & Howard Hofmann. (13) Bob & Neva Horr, Lois Silvey, Charlie Mann, 8ob Silvey. (14) Pat Simone, Janis Fuller, Bob & Nancy Ramsey. (15) Zack & Marge Brandon, from Portland,0r. (16) Ace Mason, Marty Wist. (17) Frank Davis, Don ComSIOCK.