CO.

Cleghorn, a tenor. The displays and further showing of the interesting motion pictures, as well as '"bu11 sessions" in the many hospitality rooms of the suppliers, occupied the conventioneers until the annual banquet that evening in the Embassy room.

Robert R. James, manager of the Macco Lumber Co., Paramount, Calif., officiated at the annual banquet. The superb entertainment at this event was called one of the best shows Orrie Hamilton has ever staged for a SCRLA annual. Sparked by Bill Thompson of the Fibber McGee & Molly show, who confounded his audience by entering in the guise of an important lumber executive and declaring lumber names had just reverted to numbers, his dramatic hoax set the stage for the following excellent acts: The Sheppard Brothers, world-famous Sn'iss bellringers; Irene Ryan, the lovable, zany star of all entertainment mediums; Jon and Inga Zerby, dance stylists; Bob Douglas, singing star of many Broad'ivay hits, and West and Maza in "So This Is MUSIC?" Phil Arden conducted the orchestra in his smooth rhythms.

Speciolizing in

Ponderosq

Cleqr Fir tlnd Redwood

"Early Birds" Start Final Day

In addition to the extra breakfast session which was held this year, the customary Early Birds Breakfast was again staged, on the final morning, April 19. A good crowd of dealers and guests gathered in the new ballroom of the Ambassador at 8 a.m. to honor tl-re respected elder dealers of the SCRLA as usual on these memorable occasions. President Mullin introduced H. Park Arnold, vice-president and manager of the Fox-Woodsum Lumber Co., Glendale, to preside over the session after first praising him for his fourtime presidency of the association, his rank in the National Retail Lumber Dealers Assn., his many civic honors, etc. Park Arnold, as almost everyone knon's, is a dealer rvith few peers on the platform. He was in his usual rare form as he introduced "the Old Crows, Old Brzzards, Old Foresters-or just the'Early Birds." As Mr. Arnold called the ro11 of SCRLA's active, associate or sustaining members who have been contir:.uously engaged in the business forty or more years, each name present stood to be honored by his fellows. They comfortably filled the head table across the long platform this year but, unfortunately, many had to remain absent because of the press of business, distance to be traveled, or for other reasons.

This was the roster of Early Birds at this 39th annual gathering (those not present are listed in bold face) :

Herman Loehr, Harvey Miner, Frank Gibbs, John W. Fisher, Hal Bailey, Asa Fickling, Chester Pontius, Ross Blanchard, Chester Knight, Percy Merithew, Herschell Larrick, Sr. (Mr. Larrick rvas busy at home in Solana Beach preparing an Open House for the latest remodeling of his fine yard rvhich rvill be reported with photos in a June issue of The MERCHANT), Connie Ganahl, Paul Hallingby, Walter llarris, Roy Sandefur, Everett Parker, Don Sutherin, Albert E. Rogers, Emil Srvanson, Ed Houghton, L. A. Beckstrom, Sr., Ed Stoner, Sr., John Stricklin, Horace Wolfe, A. J. McMillin, Marco Nicolai, Chas. Sommes, Percy Brunner, Steve Hathaway, Walter Spicer, Russell Mullin, Hayward Dill, Charles Dill, Fred Holmes, Iloward Ware and Art Penberthy. Also introduced from the floor was Kenneth Smith, a longtimer from The Pacifrc Lumber Co. visiting from the north.

Lathrop K. Leishman, co-o\'vner of the Crown City Lumber & Mill Co., Pasadena, handled the installation of officers and directors for the new term at this time. He seconded President Mullin's earlier convention remarks that 1955-56 had been an outstanding year in SCRLA history, praised the "linest board meeting in memory" on April 17, and installed the officers named at the start of this story. He then named the directors and introduced these new ones for 1956-57: Tom Fleming, Ralph Russell, William F. Van Matre, Carl Bauer, George Hammond and Vaughn Davies.

Park Arnold next introduced the first speaker oi the breakfast, James C. O'Malley, secretary and salesmanager of the vast O'Malley Lumber Company retail yards and allied interests in Arizona. Mr. O'Malley, of Phoenix, is currently the second vice-president of NRLDA. His topic for the SCIfLA members was "Is It Possible to Merchandise Quality Building Materials in Caiifornia and Arizona?"

"The anaesthetic of the rising economy has dulled our thinking," O'Malley began. "We have sacrificed quality planning to political pressure, tract builders and S-percenters. Retailers have been trying for years to push quality materials. We can't set prices any more-that's a thing of the past. But we can set a standard of quality," he said.

The Arizona dealer told of formation of the Lumber Merchandisers Assn. in his state and other progressive moves (excerpts from Mr. O'Malley's speech will be printed in a future issue).

In introducing the next speaker, Hal Brown, Park Ar- nold told of Brorvn's tmly outstzrnding record the past year in recruiting membership for the SCRLA. \{r. Brown threrv many a pithy, prlr1g-ent paragraph :rt his listeners under the title of his talk, "Are We Neglecting Our Business As Citizens ?"

"We should be as careful preserving and safeguarding our corlntry as \\'e are our businesses," he declared. "I-ethargy on our part gets tls just what lve deserve in politics."

Brown cited the fact that in Jefferson's time, one out of every 350 persons was a government employee ; today it is one out of every nine. "With us, if rve go in the red, our business is licluidated; if the government goes in the red, the result is inflation." \Varning that "rvhat is past is prologue" in government language, Mr. Bron'n s:rid, "Broth- ers ! You ain't seen nothin' yet !"

Park Arnold thanked the exhibitors for their support and displays at the convention and urged contir-rued dealermember support of the suppliers. The big breakfast session concluded about 10:30 a.m.

Hoo-Hoo Are Heard From

Not that the 39th annual rvasn't in high gear right from the start, but the convention really got going vr,'hen llooHoo got into the act with the noon session the final day, April 19, at the annual time generously provided by Executive Vice-President Hamilton and the SCRLA board.

Meeting in the huge Embassy room with the assembled SCRI-A members in cooperation r,vith the combined HooHoo clubs of atl Southern California, a huge overflow crowd caused extra tables to be placed right arnong the exhibit booths. Wayne Mullin introduced John D. Sullivan of the \\restern Lumber Co., San Diego, president of the San Diego Lumbermen's Assn. and prominent in Hoo-Hoo Club 3 there, and James H. Forgie of the Robert Osgood company, Los Angeies, acting Snark of Los Angeles HooHoo Ciub 2, who together shared the duties of presiding over this session of the convention.

An exciting fashion show was staged during luncheon for the benefit of Hoo-Hoo-Ette members who rvere also in attendance at this big Hoo-Hoo Day, and r,vho had members there from both the L. A. and San Diego clubs.

Snark Forgie introduced distinguished Hoo-Hoo at the head table : Mabel Staser, president of Hoo-Hoo-Ette Club No. 1, Los Angeles;Bob Heckel, Snark of San Diego Clulr 3 ; Bert Holdren, Snark of the Riverside club : Stark Sow-

Club 2 Snqrk Jim Forgie (left) ond Orrie Homilton (right) staged the Hoo-Hoo doy during lhe convenlion ers, Deputy State Snark of Southern California this terrn ; Bob Gallagher, Gurdon of the Supreme Nine in the International, who came for the occasion from Albuquerque, N. N ., ancl last but by no means least, Sr.rark of the Universe E. G. "Dave" I)avis of the International Concatenated Order of Hoo-Hoo, California's very orvn top Hoo-Hoo this year, who graced the convention lvith his presence.

Local Snark Forgie told of current projects of the Los Angeles Hoo-Hoo, including the very u'orthy u'oodr.vorking shop to be furnished by donations for the LaVerne Boys Home. Forgie then introduced Big Snark Davis for the major speech of the occasion. Davis distinguished the day SNARKS WERE A DIME-A-DOZEN (figurorively speaking, of course!) on Hoo-Hoo Doy during the convenlion, Ponel I (left) shows (left ro righr): Snork Heckel (Son Diego), Snork Al Bell (5on Frcncisco Club 9), Deputy Stote Snork Sowers (SoCal), Snork Holdren (Riverside), Snork of the Universe Dqvir. Snork Forgie (los Angeles) and Gurdon Gollogher of the Supreme 9. Photo ot right shows Don Bufkin (ex-SoCol DSS), Roy Stonion, post Snark of rhe Universe wifh Dove Dovis, and "Filz" Fitzpofrick, who is olso shown in Photo I of Pqnel 2 wirh Rivarside's Holdren, which club "Fitz" recctivqted when he wos Club 2 Snqrk. Next: Jerry Wesrphol ond Forgie, ond (right phoro) Holdren, Sowers, Dovis, Gollogher. Photo l, Ponel 3: S. D. Snork Heckel with o predecessor, ex-Snqrk Herschell Lorrick, Jr, of 1954;' next (1. ro r.): lorrick, Heckel. Dcvis, John 9ullivqn of the SDIA ond two exhibitors; ond lost (but nof leost): Son Diego's Snork introduces Top Snork Dqvis to the fomed Son Diego Hoo-Hoo Quqrtet (see Pcges 58 ond 6l)