IN MEMORIAM

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NY’s Ward Transitions to Worker-Owned

The employees of New York’s Ward Lumber have made history by purchasing the 130-year-old business as a worker-owned cooperative.

The business, with locations in Jay and Malone, N.Y., employs over 50 local people, has been in Jay Ward’s family for four generations. “Every business is going to go through a transition, whether that is by design or default,” said Ward, who will continue as CEO. “Rather than choose liquidation or selling to some other business that would change the culture, I wanted to look at employee ownership.

Not included in the deal is Ward Pine Mill, the manufacturing division which is operated by Jay’s brother, Jeff Ward. Ward Pine Mill became an independent business in 2017 and is not included in the employee ownership transaction.

Two Fires Strike NY Mill

Berry Brothers Lumber, Adams, N.Y., suffered two fires in three weeks.

The first blaze, on April 27, caused minor damage to its mulched wood facility. Then on May 19, a piece of machinery that makes shavings caught fire.

Both fires were contained quickly by local firefighters.

Chester Gets Veneer Dryer

Boise Cascade in Chester, S.C., has ordered its third veneer dryer system from USNR.

The 14-section, steam-heated M-72 jet dryer includes unloader, GSc2000 scanning system, Sequoia Sentry moisture detector, and four-bin random/ sheet stacker. The spike belt stacker is designed to process 40 redried sheets per minute. Two longer M-72 dryers will primarily dry green veneer sheets, with the new shorter 14-section dryer and stacking system processing redry, random, and some green veneer sheets.

IN Memoriam

Randall Lloyd “Randy” Skinner, 76, president of Tahlequah Lumber Co., Tahlequah, Ok., died April 28.

A 1971 graduated of Tulsa University, he joined his father-in-law’s lumber business in 1981 as a manager. He also acquired Pryor Lumber, Pryor, Ok., in 2008 and Wagoner Lumber, Wagoner, Ok., in 2015.

Randy served on the boards of the Oklahoma Lumberman’s Assocation and Do it Best Corp.

Lester D. Jantz, 92, co-owner of Jantz Lumber Co., McPherson, Ks., died May 1.

A U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War, he joined Lake Superior Lumber in 1955. In 1966, the name changed to Harris Lumber. Lester served as partner to Harold Harris, Warner Harris, and Harold Schlender until 1985, when he and his wife, Shirley, bought the yard and changed the name.

He was a past president and director of the Kansas Lumber Association, and former director of the Mid-America Lumbermens Association.

Robert W. “Bob” Gove, 90, former owner of Gove Lumber Co., Beverly, Ma., died April 27.

After graduating from the University of New Hampshire, he served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He then spent 65 years with the family business, until closing it in 2013. Bob also served as director of the Massachusetts Lumber Dealers Association.

Edward J. “Ed” Shannon Jr., 86, former owner of Shannon Lumber Co., Chicago, Il., passed away April 25.

After graduating from the University of Michigan in 1957 and spending two years as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army, Ed joined his father at Shannon Lumber. He eventually took over and ran the company until his retirement in 2012.

Robert Ezra “Buck” Dickinson, 95, co-founder of Dickinson Brothers Lumber Co., Spotsylvania, Va., passed away April 30 after suffering a stroke.

An Army veteran of World War II, he started a sawmill in 1948 that he would operate for 37 years. In 1959, Buck and his brother Earl started Dickinson Brothers, selling the yard in 1994.

TALK Back

WHAT REALLY MATTERS

Patrick, once again, you waste no time getting to the root of what really matters (“God, Country, Family... and Less Important Things,” April, p. 8). Thanks for providing an antidote of inspired clarity and truth, in the midst of confusion, deception and fear.

Your opening editorial “Across the Board” is always reread here several times, by me, my family, and anyone who will take the time to read it when I ask them to “check this guy out!”

Jamie Emmer

Lumber Marketing Services

Hope, Id.