IN MEMORIAM

Larry Cordova Holguin Jr., 84, longtime Southern California lumber broker, died Aug. 29 after a lengthy battle with pulmonary fibrosis.

After his military service, Larry got his start in the lumber business with Big Bear Timber Co., Redlands, Ca. After completing his business certificate at Skadron Business College, he began trading lumber at Inland Lumber Co., Grand Terrace, Ca., and All-Coast Forest Products, Chino, Ca.

Dorris Irene Long, co-owner of the old Long’s Building Supply, Fresno, Ca., passed away on Sept. 6 at the age of 95.

At 18, she married, and not long after Dorris and husband Buster started hauling lumber from Seattle and reselling it to builders throughout the region. In 1947, they opened C.G. Long & Sons, Salem, Or., with Buster’s father, Chester Long, and brother, Buddy.

In 1968, the couple relocated to Fresno, and three months later opened Long’s Plywood & Roofing with their sons. In 1970, they renamed the business Long’s Building Supply and relocated to a larger facility. In 1994, five years after Buster’s passing, Dorris closed the business and retired.

Raymond Joseph Wollaston, 89, Pacific Northwest lumber salesman, has passed.

A graduate of Seattle University, Ray began his lumber career in 1972, working for Standard Forest Products, Springfield, Or., and Western International Forest Products, Beaverton, Or.

James Randall “Randy” Smith, 75, Wyoming lumber veteran, died Sept. 7 after a seven-year battle with mesothelioma.

He started in the LBM business with Frontier Lumber Co., Lusk, Wy., rising to manager in 1977. After moving to Meeteetse, Wy., in 1991, he worked in outside sales for United Builders Supply Co. until his retirement.

Merton Willis “Mert” Menge, 81, operator of M&M Forest Products, Sweet Home, Or., died Aug. 10 of colon cancer.

Mert entered the timber industry in 1962 as a logger in Springfield, Or. In 1976 he started his own business, which he operated until becoming a full-time woodcarving artist in 1994.

Steven “Eric” Zook, former outside salesman for ABC Supply, Vancouver, Wa., and Woodfeathers Roofing Materials, Vancouver, died Aug. 29. He was 49.

Herbert Vollrath Kohler, Jr., 83, executive chairman of Kohler Co., Kohler, Wi., died Sept. 3.

The son of the company founder, he spent many summers of his youth as a laborer on the Kohler farms and in most of the manufacturing divisions of Kohler Co. After studying at the University of Zurich in Switzerland and receiving his degree from Yale University in 1965, he rejoined Kohler Co. full-time as an R&D technician. He became a director of the company in 1967, and when his father died a year later, he became vice president of operations. He was named executive vice president in 1971, chairman and CEO in 1972, and president in 1974. In 2015, he became the executive chairman, with son David taking the helm as president and CEO. David now succeeds him as chairman.

Herbert was inducted into the National Kitchen and Bath Hall of Fame in its founding year of 1989, followed by the National Housing Hall of Fame in 1993.

GP LAUNCHES ONLINE PORTAL

Georgia-Pacific has introduced GP Toolbox, a free portal for direct customers allowing 24/7 access to all account information.

GP Toolbox allows users to customize notifications to include tracking changes to order status, availability, and price; to specify notification frequency, time, and recipients; and to attach documents.

Through the case creation tool, users are able to request order changes; report an issue; and receive real-time case status updates. Order status and documents options permit access to order and transportation status: order and shipment confirmation; proof of delivery; and invoices.

PBS CONSOLIDATES ITS BUILDING SYSTEM BRANDS

Premier Building Systems, Puyallup, Wa., is folding its Premier SIPS, R-Shield Insulation, R-Shield Geofoam, and Premier ICF (formerly Diamond Snap-Form) product brands—all under common ownership since 2018— into PBS. Its Big Sky R-Control SIPs brand is now being marketed under the Premier SIPS brand.

“Under the umbrella of PBS, each brand fits perfectly into our niche—manufacturing superior products that are faster, stronger, and far greener for architects, contractors, and developers to use in building design and construction. We remain committed to offering the industry’s top echelon of sustainable building systems,” said Brad Huempfner, president.

Creating a family of brands fosters PBS’s ability to combine research and development, technical, production, and distribution resources across all brands, offering exceptionally high-performance construction and building system solutions from the foundation up.

“With all these superior building system product lines, we have remained committed to continued growth through investments in production, innovation and sustainability,” said Huempfner.

Premier SIPS also launched a new look and new website at www.premiersips.com. R-Shield Insulation & Geofoam and Premier ICF will unveil new websites in the coming months.