50th anniversary for maior hardwood wholesaler

I AUNCHED during one of the Lmost difficult economic times in our country's history, PenberthY Lumber Co., Los Angeles, Ca., will celebrate its 50th year in 1981, with Paul Penberthy, chairman of the board, at the age of 90, still active in the business.

If there was ever anyone worthy of the description "true grit" Paul Penberthy deserves the highest consideration. His devotion to the Puritan work ethic has helped build one of the largest and most successful hardwood lumber companies in the United States.

Penberthy operates two wholesale yards in Southern California, one in Los Angeles and one in Carson near the harbor, and also owns and oPerates the Pine Mountain Lumber Co. in Yreka, Cal.

The two Southern California facilities cover approximately 17 acres, fully paved with a major portion under roof. They also include air and kiln drying capabilities at both locations and a complete planing mill at the Los Anseles vard for producing hundredi of different deitails. The company maintains an inventorY of 9- I 1 million feet of imported and domestic hardwoods and softwoods in over 75 different species.

Story at a Glance

Hardwood wholesaler celebrates golden anniversary founder still active at 90 family oriented operation now employs third generation . company keeps on growing.

Penberthy ships lumber to customers throughout the U.S. and Canada, including many of the counftY's leading manufacturers of fine furniture, cabinets, pool tables, boats, truck bodies. musical instruments, office furniture, archery equipment, sporting guns, picture frames and others. Lumber is also supplied for construction and industrial applications such as residential and commercial buildings, patterns for foundries, wear boards for steel mills, docks, pilings, excavation and mine supports. ' tt itt started at the end of the-1920s, during very precarious economic times, when Paul Penberthy decided to resign as sales manager of the W.E. Cooper Lumber Co. to buy and sell lumber on his own. But, Paul was no stranger to adversity. His father had died at the ase of 35 and his mother, the same ydar, leaving him, three brothers and a sister to be raised by a guardian. During the summer months he worked as a tally boy in the huge lumber producing area near his home in Menominee,Mi. It was here that he saw and became fascinated by the fortunes being made in the lumber industry, and was inspired to enter the School of Forestry at the University of Michigan.

After two years at the UniversitY, funds ran low and Paul's driving ambition led him to heed Horatio Algers' admonition to go West, where he obtained a iob with McCormick Lumber Co. in San Diego working his waY up to an office position. It was during this period that the lure of cheap land aftracted him to the Imperial Valley where he and his brothei filed on 160 acres. With no previous farming or land development exPerience, it proved to be an arduous, but later iuccessful. undertaking for the young men.

Then World War I started, and Paul SEARCHII{G OUT fine hardwoods in the remote corners ol the world, Paul and Lillie Penberthy have worked as a team since the 1920s when they first started buying trips together around the world.

October, 1980 enlisted in the U.S. Armv and became a flying officer. While in service, he was married to Lillie Larey. and after the armistice, returned-to the farm. His earlier fascination with the lumber industry finally got the best of him, and he moved his family to Los Angeles to again ply the trade.

EXECUTIVE secretary is Lovev McCarthv. Bill St. Paul (next desk) coordinates tetteis of credit and expedites shipments from domestic and_ foreign supplieis as v.p. and qsg!. mgr. Greg King and Jim Kelty are field salesmen. Alice Warren, backoround. serves luncheon daily for otfice peEonnel. (lower photo) Charhis James, fiont desk, is in charge of order desk and credit aoproval. Field sales personnel are Jim Sattdrfield, Larry Hill, Wayne Bradbuy, Jack Simmons, Tom Reff and Jack Crump, standing.

The first big break, after leaving Cooper, came-when a good friendl Charles Kellogg, asked Paul to sell 2 million feet of lumber that was on its way to Los Angeles. Diligence and ingenuity paid off. Enough capital was generated to rent a piece of property in South Los Angeles, and the PenberthyLumber Co. was officially launched in March, 193 I Before long, a piece of land was purchased nearby and later sold at a profit to an expanding brewery. The property on B<iyle Aie. was ihen acquir'ed "from Hammond Lumber Co. and Penberthy headquarters have been located there since the early 1940s.

Paul Penberthy, to thi-s day, maintains a long things-to-do list on his desk with several entries checked off each day. "His vitality and imagination have been an inspiration to everyone in the company," says Lillie, his wife of 63 years.

But, Mr. Penberthy is quick to acknowledge, "It could not have been done without her, my sons and many other dedicated friends and employees." Mrs. Penberthy, from the^ beginning, has accompaiied her husband on all buying trips, domestic and foreign, taking notes on all meet-

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(Continued from previous page) ings to confirm impressions, decisions and commitments.

While Paul Penberthy is still involved in policy matters, the day-today operations of the Los Angeles facilities and Pine Mountain are in the capable hands of Paul Penberthy, Jr., president of the Southern California operations and Farrier "Fay" Penberthy, president of the Northern

California softwoods production facility. Both sons joined the firm, over 30 years ago, after completing their education at Stanford and service as pilots in the Army Air Corps during World War II.

Paul, Jr. was responsible for laying out and implementing the plans for the Canon facility which was established in 1969. It includes many of the most modern. efficient methods for the storage and handling of lumber, such as automated grading, tallying. stacking, drying and milling. The company also employs an on board computer for inventory anticipation and control, pricing, billing, payroll, sales and market information. Rail sidings at both yards permit easy loading and unloading for fast shipment to and from anyplace in the country. A truck fleet makes deliveries in and around Southern California, and fa-

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When you call, we deliver. Fast. And we deliver darn near everything. Lumber. Plywood. Timbers. Fencing. Masonite. Hardboard. Particleboard. Roofing. Hardware. No other distributor in Southern California comes close to handling as many products. That's why we are the Super Supplier. Slip into the nearest phone booth and call. We'll deliver full or mixed loads to your yard or your customer's job site. Super? You said it. Louisiana-Pacific Corporation, Crown Distribution Center, 900 West Taft, Orange, California. Phone 714-998-6500 or 213-598-9675.