Southern California Retail Lumber Association

Climaxes Biggest Year With 39th Annual Convention

The 39th annual meeting and trade show of the Southern California Retail Lumber Association at the Los Angeles Ambassador Hotel April 17-18-19 climaxed one of the most successful years the Southland dealers have ever enjoyed, as President Wayne F. Mullin summed up in his speech, "Your Association Moves Forward" (see Page 2l). NIr. Mullin, of the Mullin Lumber Co., Los Angeles, was re-elected president of the SCRLA Ior the 1956-57 term at an unusu-ally significant board meeting attended by 29 directors and officers the morning of April l7 before the official start of the convention.

The other officers re-elected for another term in ofhce annual, rvith a peak attendance of 1,800-2,000 during the rvere Orrie W. Hamiiton, executive vice-president; Hal A. biggest events on the prograrn. One of the most successful Bror,vn (Woodhead Lumber Company), vice-president; C. features of tl-ris year's convention r.vas the outstanding array Gilmore Ward (Ward & Harrington Lumber Co.), vice- of dispiays by the exhibiting suppliers, rvhich completely president; Harry C. McGahey (San Diego Lumber Co.), surrounded the main meeting room, filled the intrances to treasurer. Elected to the new ofhce of secretary u'as Stan- that room, and overflowed into another room. Convention ley G. McDonald (Owens Parks Lumber Co.), and the Manager Orrie Hamilton told The CALIFORNIA LUMname of George Lounsberry as president emeritus, with BER MERCHANT that dealer participation in the display which he rvas recently honored, appeared on the official booths hit a high-point of interest at this year's big show. slate.

Big Attendance for Exhibitors' Displays

The 1956-57 directors, 'ivhich includes several new names Another record g'as set at the annual Open House, Tgesthis year, are Ralph N. Baker, Ben W. Bartels, Carl Bauer, day night, April 17, rvhen the attendance was three times L.A. Beckstrom, Jr., Vaughn Davies, Thomas Fleming, greater than for any similar occasion, Mr. Hamilton reThomas J. Fox, Rexford L. Hall, George Hammond, Stuart ported. Stanley E. Brown, president of the Chandler Lumllarris, Lathrop K. Leishman, Carr E. McCauley, Russell ber Co., Van Nuys, presided over this evening, which rvas H. McCoy, Wiley O. Manning, Edr,vard W. Mayer, Ralph to host the member dealers, their purchasing agents and Russell, Everett C. Parker, William Van Matre. womenfolk, as lvell as guests, at the exceptional product

There was a near-record registration for the dealers' 39th displays which r,vere fully manned by experts to explain

The Convention In Pictures

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The Open House for dealers and guests at the suppliers' exhibits, as described above, concluded the first day of the 39th annual.

Breakfast Meeting Starts Second Day

President Mullin opened the second convention day rvith a welcome at an 8 a.m. Conference Breakfast. Rex Clark, general manager of the Sun Lumber Co., Wilmington, presided at this session. He introduced the first speaker, N. Bradford Trenham, executive vice-president of the California Taxpayers' Assn., Los Angeles, whose topic r'vas "Ways to Cut the Tax Load."

Warning the lumbermen to be on guard to combat federal aid for this and federal aid for that, he extolled the

Hoover Commission and said it was something Americans can thrill over-people taking a look at themselves. He also u'arned businessmen to pay some attention to groups their u'ives joined, as they might be "running interference" to their husbands' btisiness interests. "It's the same," he pointed ol1t, "as millionaires giving money to universities r'vhich hire 'Pinks' to seduce their kids' minds !" The speaker described "the Collectivist type of mind," in which movies, TV, plays, books and teachers-even some minis1g15-1q2sh Socialism; not for money llut because they are fanatics, it is a religion with them, N{r. Trenham said in his illuminating discourse.

Rex Clark next brought on Herbert J. Mann, building cost engineer and consulting architect of J'asadena, wellknou'n local radio figure rvhose Sunday broadcasts have been heard by audiences of 500,000. He spoke about the importance cif builders dealing rvith reliable lumberyards, and

RAIPH S. llTTRELL (lefr) rold rhs deolers some highlighrs in "The Story of Noils" snd described the "shope" of rhings lo come.

100 YEARS OF SERVICE is repre3ented by the group or rhe right in their cumuloiive employment. From left ro right: Williom G, Jenrich, C. Glenn Kirklond. Eqrl W, Hodlond ond Henry A. Kindness, said lumber was preferred to sultstitute materials. Mr. Mann used slide charts to project his aclvanced ideas.

Littrell Tells Story of Nails

Ralph S. Littrell, o\\rner of Littrell Flard.,vare Lines, Los Angeles, was the next speaker presented by Clark. His talk, "The Story of Nails," \\'as a pleasantly delivered diversion among' the morning's heavier subjects and he covered his topic to the dealers' enlightenment. Mr. Littrell said that nails, rvhich have been a "nuisance item-a necessary evil" to dealers, are now beir-rg furnished for each application. He showed the audience samples of the far forward strides notv being made in this important yard item.

Littrell said pallet manufzrcturers have gone almost en-