IN MEMORIAM

Andrew Louis “Andy” Ersek, 85, former treasurer and controller for South Bay Forest Products, Orange, Ca., died Oct. 27 in Fullerton, Ca. He received a degree in accounting from California State University, Long Beach, then worked for LinBrook Lumber, Anaheim, Ca., before joining South Bay. Andy was instrumental in keeping alive the “Good Guys” Friday lunchtime gathering of lumbermen, which celebrated its 50th anniversary the day after his passing.

Delfino A. Basurto, 76, Imperial Valley lumberman, died Aug. 23. After graduating from high school in 1965, he worked for Imperial Lumber, Imperial, Ca., working his way up to manager. He transferred to Imperial’s branch in Calipatria, Ca., in 1974 and later started his own business, Big D & Sons, Calipatria. He retired in 2012.

Jerry Hamilton, 82, former owner of Mid-Valley Lumber & Builders Supply, Willows, Ca., died Nov. 8. He and his wife, Mary, purchased their first lumberyard in Willows in 1979, later opening branches in Williams and Colusa, Ca. They sold the yards and retired in 2004.

Richard Brownson Keller, 93, Pacific Northwest forest and paper products executive, died Sept. 13 due to complications from a fall. Following in the footsteps of his grandfather and uncle, Dick won appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 1950. Medically unable to commission, he pursued a business degree at the Harvard Business School, graduating in 1952 as a Baker Scholar. After a short stint as a trainee with Simpson Logging Co., Shelton, Wa., Dick exchanged his boots for a suit, becoming assistant to Gen. Lewis Pick, vice-chairman of the board of Georgia Pacific Corp., Olympia, Wa. In 1954, he became the first employee of Western Kraft Corp., Albany, Or. From manager of its Beaverton, Or., corrugated box plant, he rose to general manager, and ultimately divisional VP. In 1967 Western Kraft merged with Willamette Valley Lumber Co. to form Willamette Industries, Portland, Or. Dick became senior VP of Willamette in 1970 and a director in 1975, when he was named president of Western Paper parent Keller Enterprises.

Ronald Allen “Ron” Gelbrich, 73, Northwest timberlands manager, passed away on Oct. 25. He started at Crown-Zellerbach maintaining boomsticks with his uncle along the Columbia River. He worked his way up with Crown, as a log scaler in Astoria, Or.; quality control manager in Tillamook, Or.; and chip supply manager at Wauna, Or. In 1980, he became woods supply manager for Louisiana-Pacific in Ketchikan, Ak. In 2002, Ron went on to manage operations for Cascade Hardwoods in Washington.

C&E LUMBER COMPANY

1 1/2” to 12” Diameter in Stock.