Fronk O'Connor Retires

It t'on't be the same along the lumber l'ater fronts and in and out of the lumber offices in the Bay Area around San Francisco an)' more. A familiar face, a irientilv snrile, a rvarm handclasp, a balcl dome, a cheerv r-oice that have been there for a long time, are missing. We speak of a very l'arm-hearted, friendly guy by the nanre ol' Frank O'Connor; one n.ho has been a close frienri of THE CALIFORNIA LUMBER MERCHANT gang for a mighty long time.

Frdnk O'Connor is retiring. He is laying dol.n the stock sheet, the price list, and the lumber know-how after al>out fifty. vears of active lumbering. In l9l2 he left California and 'n,ent up to Aberdeen. \\rashington, and went to rvork for the Donovan Lurnber Company, which operated a san.mill at that point. He learned their business and in 1915 they sent him back to San Francisco to open a sales office for them. There he stayed, selling Donovan stock, until i946 when the Aberdeen sarvmill cut its last log. He then opened a lumber rvholesale office, representing some excellent Northn.est mills in the Bay Area, and it is this operation he is norv closing, as he retires for good frt-rm the lumber business.

Frank O'Connor rr'as born to lurnber. Wl-ren he rvas a kid in Menominee, Michigan, that was one of the biggest sau'mill centers in the \\rorld, where more than a score of mills cut White Pine, and the firnr of Donovan & f)'Connor orvned and operated a big mill right on the shore of Green Ba1-. The O'Connor part of ihe company l.as Patrick O'Connor, his father. Later W. J. Donovan, of the same firm, having cut out in Menominee, started in the sau,mill business in Aberdeen, Washington. Frank O'Connor's father lr.as interested in that operation also.

About the year 1904 Frank O'Connor started in the lumber business in California, his first connection being n'ith the Metropolitan Lumber Company, at Metropolitan, California. In 1912, as previously stated, he went to.Aberdecn, Washington, u'hich \\'as then one of the biggest lurnber producing 'areas in the nation.

From the time he got back to San Francisco in i915 until the days of l-ris recent retirement, l.re has al'rvays been a 'n'orker. a hustler. a mixer, a leacler. For many vears the Ship Ou'ners Association of the Pacific Coast elected l-rim as its president. He 1\'as active in the r.arious rvholesale lun"rber organizations of the Bay Area, and al's'avs active in cir-ic work in San Francisco. He has been an active rvorker in Hoo-Hoo since earlv in his lumber career, his number being 30209. He has held various official titles in lumber and Hoo-Hoo activities.

His hobbies are baseball and golf. He n'as for veals one of the most rabid fans of the San Francisco Seals. He ancl I'ris u.ife make their home in San Francisco, and rvill continue to do so.

Such is a very brief report on the lumber historr- of Frank C)'Connor. He steps out of the lumber picture carrying with him the genuine good u'ishes of a u'orld of people in and out of the industry. "They don't make men any better than Frank O'Connor," cor.nmented one of his old lumber friends, on hearing of his retirement plans. If, as some great man once said, suc,cess consists of having the honor, respect, and affection of a host of friends. then this man O'Connor has achieved that mucl.r desired distinction.

A good man r,r,ho has rvorked long and faithfully. an<l deserves a rest: Frank O'Connor. San Francisco.

Esroblishes Redw6od Disrriburing Compcrny

Ken Strawser, well knorvn Southern California lumberman, has established a new wholesale Redu,or,rd distributing company in East I-os Angeles, it n'as announcecl last month.

The K D Redu,ood Company, with offices and yards located at 7157 Telegraph Road, Los Angeles, u,ill offer kiln-dried bevel siding, boards and pattern stock to the retail lumber dealers in the Southern California territory. This new firm is also equipped to offer custorx kiln drving to the trade.

"We will offer direct rail, truck and trailer and L. C. L. shipments from our mills in Northern California and bur centrally located yard in Los Angeles," saicl NIr. Strau'ser.

Max H. Schulz, Los Angeles businessman and financier, is the principal owner of the ne\\' concern, according t<r Mr. Stras'ser, and the ner,v organization has a u.ell rounded inventory on hand to take care of the spring ancl summer denrand, he continued.

A IAEET SI'IAIIAR TO IHIS, DESIGNATING GRADE AS NO. I BIUE IABEL, RED !A8Et OR NO. 3 BTACK LABEI., 15 ATTACHED TO ATI CERTIGRADE SHINGTES