South ern California Retail Dealers Meet at Los Angeles rr Record Attendance

K. Leishrran, Crown City Lumber & Mill Co., Pasadena; George I-ounsberry, Lounsberry & Harris, Los Angeles; Russell H. McCoy, McCoy Lumber Co., Hemet; Harry C. McGahey, San Diego Lumber Co., San Diego; Edward W. Mayer, Ambrose Mill & Lumber Co., Santa Barbara; Everett Parker, Patten-Blinn Lumber Co., Los Angeles; Robert C. Witter, Nutter Lumber Co., Pomona.

Registration started in the Ballroom Lounge at 10:30 a.m. This was handled by Kathryn Murray, Shirley Carvalho, Ethel Woods and Donna Woods, members of the Association's staff.

Tuesday Noon-Kick-O,ff Luncheon

President Ralph H. Baker opened the meeting and welcomed the delegates and guests. The invocation was given by the Rev. Kermit C. Castellanos, Associate Pastor, All Saints Episcopal Church, Beverly Hills.

Wayne F. Mullin, president and general manager of the Mullin Lumber Co., Los Angeles, presided at the business session.

The 37th Annual Meeting and Trade Show of the Southern California Retail Lumber Association was held at the Hotel Statler, I-os Angeles, on April 20,21 and 22, 1954.

The theme of the meeting was "Marketing, Merchandising and Selling" and was developed around current industry programs including "Do-It-Yourself" activities. Prominent speakers from all over the nation took part in the program. There was a record attendance of well over 2000.

Tuesday Morning

The officers and directors met at breakfast in the New York Room at 8:00 a.m. and elected ofificers.

Ben W. Bartels, general manager and treasurer of the Peoples Lumber Co., Ventura, was elected president. He succeeds Ralph N. Baker, vice president and general manager of the Barr Lumber 'Co. of Santa Ana.

Other officers elected lvere: Vice Presidents, Wayne F. Mullin (re-elected), Mullin Lumber Co., Los Angeles, and Hal A. Brown, Woodhead Lumber Co., Los Angeles; treasurer, C. Gilmore Ward (re-elected), Ward & Harrington Lumber Co., Santa Ana. Orrie W. Hamilton was re-elected executive vice president.

Association directors are: H. Park Arnold, Fox-Woodsum Lumber Co., Glendale; L. A. Beckstrom, Jr., Arcata Lumber Co., Arcata; Hal A. Brown, Woodhead Lumber Co., Los Angeles; Asa E. Fickling, A. E. Fickling Lumber Co., Long Beach; Thomas J. Fox, John W. Fisher Lumber Co., Santa I\4onica; C. Dungan Gibson, Gibson Lumber Co., San Bernardino; Rexford L. Hall, W. D. Hall Co., El Cajon; Robert R. James, Macco Lumber Co., Paramount; Chester C. Knight, San Fernando Lumber Co., San Fernando; Lathrop

Bernice Fay presided at the Hammond organ. The entertainment included Charles Aaron in songs; the Four-TonesA Symphony of Music and Songs by the Duncan Sisters of trhe musical production "Topsy and Eva."

The keynote address, "Thinkin' Tall," was given by Kenneth McFarland of Topeka, Kansas, Educational Consultant and Lecturer for General Motors Corp.

A five-point program for "leadership which will keep up with the people's thinking" was outlined by the speaker. He listed the points as: luesday Afternoon

"Never again to get maneuvered into a position where America furnishes the blood, treasure and munitions for war, while somebody else makes the policy and profit from trading with the enemy.

"To help any people earnestly striving to achieve the goals in which we believe, but never again to be guilty of trying to buy anybody's friendship with American dollars.

"To recognize that we can't do business with outlaws and will resist with all our power to bring Red China or any other outlaw into the United Nations.

"To keep our armed forces impregnable, but to cease underestimating the power of propaganda, ideas and ideals, in exposing the basic policy of Communism.

"Leadership in organizing and capitalizing on the deep spiritual yearnings that are stirring all over the world."

Visiting the Equipments and Products Exhibits

Tuesday Evening

Open House-Trade Show

There was a large attendance at the public showing of the equipment and products exhibits starting at 7:30 p.m. Tom Holden and The Dude Swingsters furnished music during the evening. Refreshments were served and there were drawings for the attendance prizes. C. Gilmore Ward, Ward & Harrington Lumber Co., Santa Ana, officiated.

Wednesday Morning

E. C. Parker, Patten-Blinn Lumber Co., presided. The invocation was given by Dr. J. Lester Harnish, Pastor, Temple Baptist Church, I-os Angeles.

The Breakfast Conference honored the "Old Timers" in the industry. "Old Timers" present at the meeting were Frank Curran, Frank Curran Lumber Co., fnc., Santa Ana; Ross Blanchard, Blanchard Lumber Co., Nort'h Hollywood; Francis Boyd, Boyd Mill & Lumber Co., Santa Barbara; Roy Sandefer, Dill Lumber Co., Arlington; Paul Hallingby, Hammond Lumber Co., Los Angeles; Walter llarris, Lounsberry & Harris, Los Angeles; C, C. Ganahl, Ganahl Lumber Co., Los Angeles; Frank Gibbs, Gibbs Lumber Co., Anaheim; George Lounsberry, I-ounsberry & Harris, Los Angeles; Syd Smith, San Diego; A. E. Fickling, A. E. Fickling Lumber Co., Long Beach; Walter Spicer, Ward & Harrington Lumber Co., Santa Ana; A. E. Rogers, Hyde Park Lumber Co., Los Angeles; Frank Olson, Olson Lumber Co., Alhambra; Steve Hathaway, Oceanside Lumber Co., Oceanside; and Percy Merithew, E. K. Wood Lumber Co., Los Angeles. Mr. Parker gave a brief lumber career sketch of each of the "O'ld Timers" and they were asked to stand and take a bow. They received a fine round of applause from the gathering.

Arthur Clifiord, vice president of The A. W. Burritt Co., Bridgeport, Conn., was the first speaker. llis subject was "Human Relations-Getting Results Through People."

Mr. Clifford stated that we get the best results when men like their jobs and are enthusiastic about their work; they like praise and recognition; and a safe and pleasant place to work.

We are on parade every minute of the day, he said, and are being judged by our workers, associates, fellow dealers, and suppliers.

He pointed out that a man doesn't like to take orders from three or four men. Anybodv can fire a man. he said. but it is a tough job to develop a new man.

The next speaker was Lathrop K. Leishman, president of the Crown City Lumber & Mill ,Co., Pasadena, whose subject was "Is There A Profit In our Consumer Selling?"

He used a drawing board and charts with figures to illustrate his talk. He showed the comparative figures for 1950 and 1952 for the return per thousand board feet of volume handled; comparative costs of doing business or overhead figures for the various categories based on total volume; breakdown of individual overhead items according to $500,000 to $1,000,000 sales volume; Crown City Lumber & Mill Co. costs per man minute of operation; costs of writing an order and accounting that order, delivery or loading costs; showing what is going on in the industry if you cut the price.

As a solution to getting a better profit in consumer selling he listed the followirrg: Get better mark-up; percentage mark-up not dollar mark-up; percentage on sales not of costs; get your price; adequate price and products information; proper training of your personnel; advertise better profit items; self service; package selling; sell more for cash; more will call orders ; get paid for services; pre-price market items ; good mark-up on impulse orders; adequate consumer service area; adequate delivery charge; eliminate errors ; eliminate fall downs; honesty of employer and customers.

At the conclusion of his talk Mr. Parker presented him with a beautiful wrist watch in appreciation of the fine work he has done for the Association.

Wednesday Noon-Business Luncheon

Ben W. Bartels, Peoples Lumber Co., Ventura, presided. The invocation was given by Dr. Paul F. Heubner, Minister, First Methodist Church of Inglewood.

Madline Wiley presided at the Hammond organ. There was

Convention Erhibits * a fine musical program given by Jan Rubini, distinguished violinist, and his son, Michel Rubini, outstanding boy pianist.

George A. Bowie, Department of Public Relations, Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., Akron, Ohio, was the speaker. His subject was "Here and There."

Mr. Bowie told the delegates that America must exercise tolerance towards her allies to allow them a certain "freedom to differ."

He said Americans must accept two requirements in order to be considered the true defenders of free rnen. These requirements, he said, are that we face the fact that people foreign to us are going to think differently in some ways and that they are entitled to this freedom to differ.

When we are irritated by our allies, the speaker continued, we run the risk of proving the Communist prophecy that the free nations so differ from one another that unity among them will be impossible.

We should not consider that the right to be different is dangerous to unity, he said. Freedom to be different has brought strength to the union of our 48 states, success to its planning, and prosperity to its people.

Wednesday Afternoon

Visiting the Equipment and Products Exhibits

Wednesday Evening-Annual Banquet

Thomas J. Fox, president of John W. Fisher Lumber Co., Santa Monica, presided. The Right Reverend Monsignor Raymond J. O'Flaherty, Archdiocesan Director of Charities of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, delivered the invocation.

Eddie Baker presided at the Hammond organ. There was an excellent stage show including Toni I-aRue-And Her Marimba; Charlie Aaron, The Dashing Songster; John Calvert and Ana Cornell-"They'11 Baffle You"; The Five RevellersAmerica's foremost singing group; Cecil Stewart at the piano ; The Rudells-Mid-Air Mirth; and Borrah Minevitch's Harmonica Rascals, the Hilarious Music and Fun Gang of films, radio, stage and records.

Charlie Aaron was master of ceremonies, and Phil Arden, musical conductor. The entertainment was arranged by Jean Meiklejohn of the Duncan Sisters Enterprises.

Thursday Noon-Hoo-Hoo Luncheon

H. Park Arnold, vice president, Fox-Woodsum Lumber Co., Glendale, and John Lipani, president of Los Angeles Hoo-Hoo Club No. 2 and sales manager, Weyerhaeuser Sales Co., Los Angeles, presided.

The invocation was delivered by Dr. William S. Meyer, Minister, Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Los Angeles.

Bernice Fay presided at the Hammond organ, and the entertainment included .songs by the UCLA Choir of 40 voices.

The Fashion Show, honoring the Los Angeles Hoo-HooEttes Club No. 1, featured fashions by Switzer's Inc., and models from The Caroline Leonetti Modeling Agency. Commentation was by Dorothy Ritter.

Mr. Arnold introduced the first speaker, Bob Bale, Sales Executive and Public Relations Counsel, of Phoenix, Arizona, who talked on "Sales Tips For The Atomic Age."

Mr. Bale said that America's sales people would be the determining factor as to whether or not there will be continued prosperity, and how well they function will decide our economy.

Competition for the consumer's dollar is getting stiffer, he stated, and advertising will be a major tool in this necessity for intensive selling.

People will buy if you show them what you can do for them. he continued. and the man who knows how to merchandise will find that his business will increase.

Mr. Arnold turned the meeting over to John Lipani, who introduced John B. Egan, District Manager, Wood Conversion Co., St. Paul, Minn., and Snark of the lJniverse, Hoo-Hoo International, as the next speaker.

Mr. Egan stated that Hoo-Hoo has 13,000 members, and 50/o of the membership are retail lumbermen. By getting together the members get to know each other better and it builds a healthier and better condition, and by working as a group more can be accomplished than w'orking individually, he said. He also dsicussed the Hoo-Hoo educational prograrn. Hoo-Hoo. he said. believes in the Golden Rule ancl stancls for the promotion of wood products.

Executive Vice President Orrie W. Hamilton, who made all the arrangements for the annual meeting, w'as asked to stand and he received a fine round of applause.

In appreciation of the fine services to the Association cluring the past year, Mr. Arnold presented Retiring President Ralph N. Baker with a beautiful wrist watch.

At each business session attendance prizes rvere awarcled to the ladies and gentlemen holding the lucky nurnbers.

Thursday Afternoon-Award of Prizes by Exhibitors

W. W. Kilkenny was in charge of the drawing at the Hyster

Company booth and the winners of the Scale Model Karry Kranes and Straddle Trucks were:

Ed Haughton, with Carl Baugh; Mrs. H. H. EilanC, Ontario Lumber Co.; Bessie Stewart, C. P. Henry & Co.; Dick Lloyd, Ed Fountain Lumber Co.; Charles J. Bressoud, Patten-Blinn Lurnber Co. ; Helen M. Morrison; Nlabel Munroe, Patten-Blinn Lumber Co.; Jerry Essley, D. C. Essley & Son; Ken Conway, llolmes Ifureka Lumber ,Co. ; Hans Wall, General Lumber & Supply Co.; Howard Torrance, Southern California Retail Lumber Association; Ed Marshall, with John E. Marshall; A. W. Milliken, Viney-Milliken Lumber Co.; E. G. l)essieux, Patten-Blinn Lumber Co. ; R. F'. Kreisler, West Oregon Lumber Co.; C. E. Cordrey, PattenBlinn Lumber Co.; W. Garland Jones, Certified Woods Products; Frank W. Biggs, M and M Wood Working Co.; A. H. Wahl, L. H. Eubank & Son; George Otto, C. P. Henry & Co; John \\Ieston, West Oregon Lumber Co. ; Alan Shively; Gwen Hughes, Lounsberry & Harris; H. G. Larrick Jr., Lumber & Builders Supply Co. ; Mary Grubbe; Barry Lunde, Lounsberry & Harris; Don Sutherin, Patten-Blinn Lumber Co.; George Patten, Patten-Blinn Lumber Co. ; Henry Hink; Willard Friesen, Santa Barbara Mill & Lumber Co.; Mrs. W. J. Hathaway, Oceanside Lurnber Co.; W. J. Richards, Lounsberry & Harris; Edith Grannis, Patten-Blinn Lumber Co.; Bill Sharp, Inland Lumber Co. ; Torn Fox, J. W. Fisher Lumber Co.; Geraldine B. Howe, Patten-Blir-rn Lurnber Co. ; Al Wahl, Consolidated Lumber Co.; Earl Sanborn, ISarr Lumber Co.; Mrs. Margaret Batliner, Long-Bell Lumber Co.; Charles Wilson, Il. J. Stanton & Son; James Curran, Bakersfield Sandstone Brick Co.: Mabel Staser. H. l,I. Nelson Lumber Co. ; Fred Losch, E. J. Stanton & Son; Glynn Banks. Simpson Logging Co.

The winner of the Western Pine Association award, "A Merry-Go-Round" door display, was won by L. T. Smith, Pahns Lumber Co., Los Angeles. Don Comstock was in charge of the drawing.

Thursday Night-Dinner Dance

The dinner dance was held at 7:00 p.m. in the Pacific Ballroom. Music was furnished by Darrell Brewer and His Music Makers with Pat Manners as vocalist. Robert James, manager, N{acco Lumber Co., Paramount, presided. Bernice Fay at the Hammond organ furnished dinner music. E,ntertaniment numbers during the evening included Tom and Jerry-"Fun At the Bar" and Denny and Cameron-"p1s5h and Foolish."

Exhibits

The following firms had exhibits at the Trade Show: Acker & Acker; Acme Appliance Mfg. Co.; Alurninurn Co. of America; Arrowsmith Tool & Die Co.; The Bellwood Co. of California; Budrow & Company; The Celotex Corporation; Douglas Fir Plywood Association; trasi-Bild Pattern Co. ; Fir-Tex of Southern California; Ed Fountain Lumber Co. ; Gerrard Steel Strapping Division; Hyster Cornpany; Insulite Division, Minnesota & Cntario Paper Co. ; Johns-Manville Sales Corporation; Leigh Building Products, Inc. ; Littrell Hardware Lines; Marsh Wall Products, IIrc. ; Masonite Corporation; The Morgan Company; Jack Nadel, Inc. ; National Plan Service, Inc.; Pabco Products, Inc. ; Red Cedar Shingle Bureau; Reliable Metal Novelty Co.; Roddis, California, Inc.; The F. C. Russell Co.; The Sherwin-Willian-rs Co.; Simpson Logging Co.; United States Plywood Corporation; West Coast Lumbermen's Association; Western Pine Association; Western Lock 14fg. Co.; Wilshire Manufacturing Co.; Wood Conversion Co.

Winton lumber Soles News - Two New Representofives

The Winton Lumber Sales Company, of Sacramento, California, announces two new men added to its list of representatives, a salesman and a buyer. Jirn Fraser, of Larkspur, California, is the new salesman, covering an area consisting of the East Bay from San Rafael south through Monterey. He was formerly connected with both the Collins Pine Lumber Company and the Drake's Bay Lumber Company. Mr. Fraser, his wife and two daughters live at 120 King Street, in Larkspur, phone Larkspur 975-W. For the present he makes his home his headquarters.

Fred Turkheimer is Winton's new lumber buyer. He will spend most of his time calling on the sawmills throughout Northern California, and will concentrate on securing the stocks to supply the firm's large sales force with the needs of their customers. Intimate acquaintance with the mills of the territory will be secured in this way.

Henry Ford

Henry Ford was the greatest industrialist the world has ever known. He did more for the cause of the man who works with his hands than any other man.

Away back yonder he astonished the world by announcing for his employes a daily wage higher than even the most ambitious worker had even dreamed of asking for; and a shorter day than any worker would have believed possible of attainment.

He was the most outstanding specimen of the "rugged individualist" this nation has known. He believed in high wages, short hours, but he likewise believed to exactly the same degree in hard work and generous production. He thought and taught that the wise way to lower prices was to increase pay; and get increased service as a result.

Starting from scratch and making his monumental business success through nothing on earth but his own efforts, he left behind something for all men to aim at. Of course, he lived in a time when such things were definitely more possible than they would be today. Whether another such success as that of Ford could be achieved-even by another Ford-in such time as we now travel through, is very debatable.

Henry Ford will be quoted for his practical wisdom for all time to come; and justly so. He was just an oldfashioned fellow who believed that "he profits most who serves best." He thought a man should benefit according to his ability, according to his efficiency, according to his work accomplished. Nothing in his life astonished him more than the philosophy of recent years that the weak and the strong, the lazy and the vigorous, the honest and the shiftless, the dependable and the unreliable-should all share alike from the industry they serve. That, to him, was pure heresy.

A Detroit writer who knew Henry Ford well, wrote a very interesting opinion of him in a book called "Detroit is My Home Town." In order to describe what sort of unusual man Ford was, this writer whose name is Malcolm Bingay, says that if Ford and two other men stood on one corner of a city block and agreed to meet at the opposite corner of that same block (through the block, understand?) the two other men would go around the block to the point of meeting, but by some process unknown to ordinary men Mr. Ford would go straight through on a direct line, and be waiting for them. In other words, he did not have to do things the normal ordinary way, but followed a way reserved for the great men of the world. Such men impress others that waY.

Big Texos

A guy from San Antonio was bragging about his home town. He said, "It's a wonderful place. Half of it is as Mexican as Chihuahua, half is as Western as Arizona, and half is as modern and metropolitan as New York City."

Said a listener: "That makes three halves."

"I know," said the man from San Antone, "but everything in Texas is so big it has to have three halves."

Chonged Borbershops

When father got a haircut, I recall it with a thrill, The barber also shaved him, And a quarter paid the bill.

And as the barber labored, The memory haunts me Yet, My father scanned the damsels In the old Police Gazette. Now haircuts cost a fortune, A dollar plus, and yet The barber shops no longer serve, rhe old Police

3::: Myers.

These Would I Ask

These would I ask: a house upon a hill Where all the gentle winds can come and play; A climbing rose, a lonely whippoorwill To share my solitude at close of day. One star to look at in the quiet night, And think about, and maybe call my own; A winding road that wanders out of sight, And, if I stray, will always guide me home. The right to choose whatever simple prayer' My lips would say-and ah, there will be these: Within a corner of my heart somewhere, A few well-kept, well-laughted-at memories' -Ann Hlubucek.

The Bible Abouf Pqsses

The late P. T. Barnum, most famous of all circus men' was Scotch. He used to get so many requests for free passes into his shows, that he dug through the Bible for verses that would seem to cover such subjects, and came across the following quotations, which he then posted conspicuously at the front door of the show:

"Thou shalt not pass."-Numbers, XX, 18.

"Suffer not a man to pass."-;udges, llI, 28.

"None shall pass."-Mark XIII, 30.

"Neither any son of man shall pass."-Jeremiah, 43.

"Though they roar, yet they cannot pass."-Jeremiah,32.

"So he paid the fare thereof, and went."-Jonah, 3.