[. n. $mith Hardwood Gompony

were on hand for the memorable occasion included Bill and Mrs. Cowling, Carl and Mary Gavotto, Steve and Mrs. Westover, Bob Sutton, Gus Lusardi, Carl Pavlini, Toni and Earl Flanagan, Nadine Carroll, Eddie Edmunds, Jack Cummings, Bob Reid and many, many more.

The food and grog were excellent, the flowers were beautiful, the people were wonderful and everybody had a swell time launching this splendid addition to'Maple Bros., Inc.

Eorl Houston Retires from Long-Bell

Longview, Wash.-Earl H. Houston, long-time West Coast and national leader in the lumber industry, retired January 1 from the Long-Bell Division of Internati,onal Paper Company, announcei J. D. Leland, IP vice-president in iharge of Lohg-Bell Division's western operatiols. Houston s€rved the company on a consulting basis to the LongBell Division since May 15, 1959, when he retired as general sales manager of Long-Bell Division.

With hiJretirement, Mr. Houston completed more than 46 years in the lumber business. All of those years were spent with the former Long-Bell Lumber Company _and IP's Long-Bell Division. He is a native of Springfi-eld, Missouri.-He began his lumber career in February, 1913, in the Long-Belf mill at Longville, Louisiana. He moved into the sales end of the business two and a half years later when he started training as a salesman in the sales department in Kansas City, Missouri.

Houston was named manager of western sales in 1934. He was promoted to general sales manager in 1943. Further recognition of his leaiiership in the company and the_ in{u_qtry came ln t947 when he was elected to the board of directors of The Long-Bell Lumber Company. He was elected a vice-president in 1948. With the merger into International Paper Company in November 1956, he became general sales manager of IP's Long-Bell Division.

Hoiston has been aitive in the West Coast Lumbermen's Association since coming to the West Coast in 1924. He is a director of WCLA and honorary director for life of the National Lumber Manufacturers Association. He served for manv vears as chairman of NLMA's Committee on Build,trg Code. and Trade Promotion.

Februory R.efoil Sales Above'59

Total sales of all retail stores in the United States during February were estimated at $15.8 billion by the Department , of Commerce. Lumber and building materials dealers' sales were estimated at $752 million in February, compared to $727 rr.illion in January and $745 million a year ago.

(Tell them Vou sau it in The California. Lumber Men,hant)