Robert 5. Osgood Firm Begins 4oth Year

Jrly 1 is an auspicious date for Robert S. Osgood, for it was on that day in 1922 when he first established the Los Angeles branch of The Wheeler, Osgood Company. The firm has grown and prospered ever since, handling many phases of lumber business, and today an able and active sales organization covers the entire United States.

The story of the Osgood firm and its founder, Bob Osgood, is in many ways the story of the growth and modernization of the lumber industry. Bob, born in Tacoma. Washington, in 1899, is of an old-line lumber family.

Both his father, George J. Osgood, and his grandfather, George R. Osgood, were prominent loggers, lumbermen and millwork manufacturers, starting in the Northwest in the 1880's.

Bob Osgood commenced his career in lumber in 1914-at the early age of 15-in San Francisco as office boy for the legendary James Tyson of Charles Nelson Company, then among the largest lumber and shipping people on the Pacific Coast. He has been in lumber ever since, except for a six-year "lapse" in the automobile business in Santa Barbara.

Osgood became sales manager for

Washington Veneer Company's grouD of plywood. lumber utid -*illworft plants in 1931. At the end of 1932 he returned to Los Angeles as sales manager for Cadwallader-Gibson Company, the leading Philippine mahogany importers and manufacturers of that period; he spent the next eight years promoting the sale of Philippine hardwoods throughout the United States in happy association with Roy Barto, the president of Cadwallader-Gibsbn.

Those were the days, reports Bob, when sales u'ere not so much "managed" as "manufactured," and he used to spend about seven months each year traveling throughout the United States developing Philippine mahogany markets.

World War II put a stop to Philip- pine business, and early in 1942 he opened a general wholesale and commission office handling "woods for war," including softwood and hardwood lumber, imported woods from South and Central America, aircraft plywood and veneers and all lumber products.

When the war was over, Osgood returned to his old love, Philippine mahogany, and he has specialized in Philippine lumber and plywood since then. He is a long-time member and a director of the Philippine Mahogany Association.

Jim Forgie, just out of the Air Force as a Lt. Colonel, joined the Osgood firm in January, 1946. Jim is the son of Osgood's old friend, Bob Forgie, prominent and popular member of the lumber fraternity on the Pacific Coast since the turn of the century. Today Jim is vice president of Robert S. Osgood, fnc., and handles all softwood limber and specialty items. He has done much constructive work in promoting National Forest Products

Son John R. Osgood came into the organization on July l, 1949, becoming the fourth generation of Osgood lumbermen. Tohn is also vice president of bermen. John president the firm, in charge of all plywood a: d and veneer activity, and is currently vice president and director of the Imported Hardwood Plvwood Association.

Bob Osgood himself continues to handle the imported hardwood lumber end of the firm's business, drawing supplies of lumber, veneers and ply;r wood from every corner of the glob6 -with special emphasis on Philippine and Japanese hardwoods.

A Hoo-Hoo family, father George J. was a member of the Supreme Nine in the 1920's. Bob was Vicegerent Snark in Los Angeles, first in the late L92O's and again in the '40's. Son John is just finishing a very successful administration as president of Los Angeles Hoo-Hoo Club No. 2.

Jim Forgie was Snark of the Los Angeles Club in 1955-56, 1956-57, and is currently one of the mainsprings of National Forest Products Week.

In addition to lumber, Bob Osgood has had two other great loves in his his life-his family and the game of golf

Bob and his wife, Edith, live on a beautiful hilltop in Pasadena. They have four married daughters and, of course, John, son and business associate. There is a formidable array of 13 grandchildren-quite an "Osgood forest" in itself.

Bob has been an enthusiastic golfer for 40 years, and still plays to a handicap in single figures. He is a member of Annandale Golf Club in Pasadena, a member of the Board of Governors and tournament chairman of Senior's Golf Association of Southern California. He is also an active member of the unique Terrible Twenty golfing group which has held consecutive monthly tournaments since its inception in 1926.

It is interesting to note that Bob Osgood and The California Lumber Merchant started out on their own at the same time-July l, 1922. States Bob, "I have enjoyed every issue of The California Lumber Merchant since that day, and consider the industry particularly fortunate to have had the benefit throughout the years of Jack Dionne's constructive thoughts, penetrating philosophy and rare humor."

We venture to say that the Osgood family in its four generations has been good for the lumber industry and will continue to be so. We hope The California Lumber Merchant, similarly passing the "Jack Benny mark of 39," has and will continue so, too. We know the lumber industry has been good to all of us. rt'

Bob Golding wirh tlorquort-Wolfe

Sqles Deportment

Bob Golding, formerly with the Lloyd St. Clair Lumber Co., Kansas City, Missouri, has been assigned a sales territory by Marquart-Wolfe Lumber Company, Los Angeles, according to an announcement by Sterling Wolfe, vice-president of the wholesale lumber firm. Bob will ,cover the "Kite" area, including San Diego, Im-