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'D) Forcst Prcducts Whatever happened to . . .?

8y Mett Moulder

Al O'Brien, sales manager, Collins Pine Co., Chester, Ca.? Since his retirement in 1983, Al has been one of the regulars at the Chester Colf Course, but between rounds he is getting the family home ready to sell. lt seems Al still has webbed feet and vearns to return to the dew covered fairways around Portland, Or.

Back in 1949, O'Brien received a degree in Forestry from Oregon State U. and immediately headed soutt at the beckoning of Coliins Pine. After a short stint in the wholesaling world at Leo H. Ryan Lbr. Co., Portland, in 1952, it was back to Clester in 1960 to become assistant sales manager at Collins. ln 197O Paul Foote retired from the head sales manager position and Al was named as his replacement.

There's good news and bad news for Al's many friends in the industry. Thb bad news is he doesn't miss the lumber biz. The good news: he misses his many friends in the wood products game. Al has a lot of them. He was one of the CREAT ones.

Al O'Brien and I have something in common, although in recent years, we've been reluctant to admit during football season that we are Oreg,on State alumni. Al knows, as I do, how it feels to be the brunt of"bad iokes over the years.

For example, the completely tasteless one about Bear Bryant, former Alabama coaching legend, asking in his will that he be laid to rest in Corvallis, home of OSU, so that he could get as far away from college football as possible. Or the one about the judge presiding in a child beating case awarding custody of the child to the Oregon State football team on the grounds that they couldn't beat anyone. lt looks as though things are turning though, Al. Maybe l'll see you at the Rose Bowl game again one of these days. Who knows?

On the lighter Side

We appreciate the many cards and letters pouring in complimentins us on this column. Both of them were enioved by the entire staff. W"e especially liked the card from the reader in Yu5a City who said that Piineville, Or., would have beaten out Yuba City in the Rand McNally rating of the worst place to live in the U.S., but the rating team from Rand McNally spent several days looking for Prineville and couldn't find it!

Future Dates

Check our Calendar on page 20 tor information on upcoming conventions, meetangs and trade shows in your region.

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