Stonley C. Moore Announces Retirementi His Son, John C. Moore, Succeeds Him

,,5i4n,, Moole

Philosophers agree that for a man to retire from active work rvhile still of an age to enjoy the later years of life, is one of the highest demonstrations of human wisdom. Mighty feu' men ever do. Mostly, they keep on hitting the ball in whatever line of endeavor they may follow until, when they finally are forced to quit, it is much too late.

A prominent and popular member of the lumber industry in Southern California is right now clemonstrating that he is the possessor of that high type of wisclom. With many useful years still ahead of him, he is putting away the stock sheets and the price lists-"putting out the fire and calling the dog" as the saying goes-and turning with joy in his heart to a future far removed from the business highways he has so long pursued.

On July first, 1954, Stanley C. Moore, of Los Angeles, will letire from management of Fir-Tex of Southern California, division of Dant & Russell Sales Co., a position he has helcl since 1931. He will raise white-faced Hereford cattle on his three ranches in the beautiful San Joaquin Valley, from nolv on.

"Stan" Moore, as he is familiarly and affectionately kno'il'n to a host of lumber and building material men in Southern California, has spent the last 23 years building business for the concern he has so ably managed, and friends for himself. In retirement he carries with him the high regard of all the business people who know him; who approve him for his never-failing integrity, his fine business acumen and his engaging personality. A quiet, determined man of high character, he has reflected nothing but creclit of a high order on the affairs he has been associated with.

He will be succeeded on July first, as manager of Fir-Tcx of Southern California, by his very personable and able son, John C. Moore, who has been assistant manager for the past three years. The young man joined the concern in 1942, took three years out to help win World War 'lwo as a pilot of a B25 bomber in the South Pacific, and returned to Fir-Tex in 1946. He traveled the San Fernando Valley for several years, then entered the office to handle more general affairs, and three years ago became his father's assistant. The young rnan is married, has three children and makes his home in Los Angeles.

There is another young Moore in the Fir-Tex organization in Los Angeles also, Stanley Moore, Jr., who helps sell their products.

Now a brief business history of the career of Stan l\4oore. He started business life as an insurance salesman, then became secretary-manager of the Union Trust Company at Walla Walla, Washington. Then he moved to Spokane, where he became vice president and manager of the Security Trust Company of that citv. In 1929 he edtered the investment banking business on his own account in Spokane. The depression cut the business short and, in 1931, he joined up with Dant & Russell, of Portland, with whom he has been associated ever since.

I{e came to Southern California, where he succeecled Torn Dant as manager of the sales offrce of Fir-Tex, then a oneoffice, one-man assignment, and went to selling Fir-Tex for the Fir-Tex Insulating Board Company, of St. Helens, Oregon, a Dant & Russell industry. They rented a small warehouse on East 7th Street, and began stocking Fir-Tex, which, up to that time, they had been wholesaling in car lots.

They also acquired the Coraltex Company, r.l'hich was making Coralite in a plant at Pasadena. N{r. Moore managed the Coraltex plant and the Fir-Tex sales warehouse. Coralite has ever since been one of the main units of Fir-Tex. It is a plastic-finished board belonging to the tile family. The Coraltex Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dant & Russell Sales Company, of Portland, is now a genuine division of that large organization.

In l94l Mr. Moore began construction of the present large plant at 812 East 59th Street in Los Angeles. Into this they moved the manufacture of Coralite. The plant has grown steadily ever since until it reached its present large proportions; and they still have plans and land for future growth and enlargement. Where Mr. Moore started in 1931 with one room and one employe, himself, there are now 40 employes and one of the busiest factories and warehouses in Los Angeles. Besides Fir-Tex and Coralite, they merchandise a number of other interesting building items.

At the time of his retirement, Mr. Moore was vice president of the Dant & Russell Sales Company, Portland, and g director of the Fir-Tex Insulating Board Company, St. Helens, Oregon.

The new home of Stan Moore and his charming wife is on a ranch near the town of Springville, which is not far frorn Porterville in the San Joaquin Valley. Their post office address is Box 163, Route 5, Porterville, California. They own about 4,000 acres of wonderful, rolling grassland in one of California's finest ranch areas. They raise only white-faced ,Herefords. Both Mr. and Mrs. Moore take active part in the operation of the ranches, ride horseback, brand cattle and are active in all activities of a cattle ranch. Both are in fine health, both happy and are looking forward rather tl-ran back, now that their business career is over.

The latchstring, so they say, is open to their friends at all times. Stan Moore, the building material man, is gone. Stan Moore, the rancher, is his happy successor.