Another Direct Hit

ILL it be a hit or a miss? Well, for Jim Oakley, it was no contest. Jim scored a direct hit. And so did the 100 or so that turned out for his annual Oakley Plywood and Door party at Morgan Hill.

Even God Himself got in on the act this time. For several days prior to the event, the San Francisco Bay Area had sweltered in hot, humid weather. But, when Jim had his party, even God cooled things off it was like a balmy spring day.

The party met again this year at Hill Country in the foothills just East of the plywood warehouse. Golfers teed off early, and, of course, enjoyed a nice lunch.

Prizes won included Cam McArthur with the low gross, while Nick Basting of Allstate Plywood was 2nd low gross.

Low net went to Ed Williams while Keith Johnson got 2nd low net and 3rd low net to Joe Delappe. Roy Mullins picked up an award for Iong drive; Roy Schell was all smiles with a hole-in-one. Chuck Jensen was high score and Dick Sullivan picked up most pars. 77 golfers competed for prizes.

In attendance again this year was Jule Plapp who had just returned from the lst Annual Hawaiian tour of Oakley Plywood, the prize he won last year. This year, the drawing for the 8-day trip for two was won by Art Trevino, who is all smiles, as you can see in the photos.

Chef was Irv Perch and Stan Classic did a fine job as comedian and kept the audience well entertained with his antics.

Home Center Proflts

Pre-tax profits of U.S. home centers rose to 5.42% of sales in 1973, up from 1972's 4.59i while sales climbed more than 16% from 1972, according to The Bottom Line report of 1973 home center operating results by the Home Center Institute of the National Retail Hardware Assn.

Home Center margins also rose from 1972's 27.7% to 28.18%,.

There are currently about 5,200 operating centers, an increase of

Weslern Lumber and Building Materiale MERCHANT

89a to 12% from 1972. The report is based on returns from 480 operating home center units. The data are presented in a variety of breakouts to enable home center management to compare their results with those of similar types of operations.

Total sales volume in the "concentrated market" (comprised of hardware stores, home centers and consumer-oriented lumber/building materials dealers) topped $12.7 billion in 1973. un about 24% from