Simmons Hordwood Operotion Outgrew L.A. But Plenty Room to Expond in New Downey Site

It was exactly eight and one-half years ago that Sid Simmons, with Roy Stillwell as superintendent and Sid the head of administration and sales, established the Simrnons Hardwood Lumber Company on South Alameda street in Los Angeles. Today this enterprising organization numbers more than 50 employes, operates out of a new fivle-acre plant in Downey, California, and stocks an inventory of foreign and domestic hardwoods and softwoods in excess of three million feet at all times for the Southland retail lumber dealers and qualified industrial users.

Sid was not a kiwi in the lumber business and Roy was no fledgling. Both had been identified in lumber sales and distribution in the Los Angeles area for many years and had their pilot's license, so to speak. These two aggressive lumbermen started right out to build an organization of lumber specialists-and that is exactly what they have accomplished.

Although young men, they boast more than 75 man years of experience in lumber remanufacturing, sales and distribution and have a complete knowledge of procurement and marketing conditions in an ever-changing situation that confronts the hardwood and softwood wholesaler. In the ninth year of business, Sid is owner and Roy is general manager of a team of veteran salesmen, inspectors and operations personnel.

Quarterback of the sales division is Russ Swift, sales manag'er, who has been handling hardwood sales in the Los Angeles area for the past decade. Russ was formerly sales manager for Tropical & Western Hardwood Lumber

Company of Los Angeles. He has a team of experienced salesmen that are hard to beat:

George M. "Mac" McManus ancl Floyd Beatty have been covering the area for Simmons for the past eight years. Both had been with hardwood firms in Los Angeles for many years prior to joining the Simmons team. Then comes Joe Williams, truly a veteran in hardwood sales and distribution. Joe has been on the Southland beat for a quarter of a century and, prior to joining the Simmons organization, was general manag'er of the Angelus Hardwood Co. Marshall Jackson (on vacation when photos were made) is another oldster on the staff. Louis Kunert and L. G. Wilford are new to the Simmons sales staff but long on wood products distribution.

Bill Deuel, yard superintendent, heads the operations staff. He is ably assisted by Ray Martin, mill foreman, and Inspectors Sam Allegra, Al Sellers, Jerry Horner and Jim Mincey.

The service staff includes Herb White. Ernest Goedert. Harold Hixenbaugh, Hardy \\rilson and Earl Rumble.

It requires eight units of mobile equipment to keep the action in the yard humming, including trucks for delivery and lift forks and carriers for stock handling.

The mill facility is for customer keeps the staff busy from early until Martin.

All stock is stored in five new service only and that late, according to Boss steel warehonses and the =. ,,; 11 ,.,=., '"..r, .,r;, ' Mtai big Southern Pacific of 10 cars at a time modern new facilitY. spur track will accommodate in excess for unloading and loading out. In this more than two million feet of lumber is stored under cover and the total area permits storage in excess of five million feet for fast yard distribution and delivery.

The office staff includes Clare Parsons, credit manager, and Halmer Johnson, senior clerk, assisted by Dorothy Simon, Dorothy Hagerman, Lillie Johnson and Betts Goodfellow. The young ladies have been identified in lumber and wood products in Los Angeles for many years and are also specialists in their line.

The beautiful new offices, yard and plant 'I'he ollices, plant are modern in every detail. The administration building is designed to handle a continuouslv exoandinpr staff. continuously expanding staff.

Private offices for the department heads are finished in the various hardwood wall surfacings sold by the firm. This acts as a permanent display for domestic and imported materials including mouldings and trim.

Prominent in the general and private offices is the use of black walnut, ash and alder wall finishes. These hardwoods are beautifully applied in every detail.

_ _"We are going to continue with our policy of handling 'absolutely nothing but the best' for the Southern California trade," said Sid Simmons. "And we are going to constantly expand our sales and operations to keep abreast of the tremendous growth of our general trade area, which includes parts of Arizona and Nevada in addition to all of Southern California," he continued. "Our new facility is iust minutes from the Santa Ana freeway and fast delivery" to all cities and communities in Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties."

The new Simmons Hardwood Lumber Company plant is located just west of Lakewood boulevard at 8725 Cleta Street in Downey, a couple of blocks south of Firestone boulevard. A full inventory of imported & domestic hardwoods and softwoods isr available for immediate delivery to the trade. Simmons also offers special selection for speciil requirements and has maintained steady growth thiough dependable customer service.

"We stock all species of fine cabinet woods and interior paneling for the trade," said Roy Stillwell. "And, believe me, every man and woman on ouf staff is customer conscious and scrupulous in every detail to see that the customer receives exactly what he orders for the job he has to do," he declared.