IN MEMORIAM

After his discharge in 1955, Ross returned to Spokane and began his business career as a lumber broker, working with his brother, Jim Mounsey. In the 1970s, he and other business partners purchased a lumber mill in Valley, Wa., which they successfully operated for several years before selling it. After the sale, Ross worked for Merrill Lynch as a commodities and options trader for a number of years, before returning to the lumber business with Ketcham Forest Products, Seattle, Wa.

Gordon Blair Mann, retired CEO and co-founder of Sullivan & Mann Lumber Co., Santa Ana, Ca., died on Dec. 20 at the age of 88.

Joseph Alexander Hardy III, founder of 84 Lumber, Eighty Four, Pa., passed away on Jan. 7—his 100th birthday.

After serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a radioman during World War II, Joe worked in sales at his father’s jewelry store while earning a degree from the University of Pittsburgh. In 1956, with Ed Ryan, Jack Kunkle, and brothers Norman and Bob Hardy, Joe launched Green Hills Lumber in a vacant basement. The business eventually became 84 Lumber—named after the city where it was headquartered—and, under Joe’s leadership, would become the largest privately owned building materials supplier in the world, with more than 260 stores in 30 states.

He passed the reins of president of 84 Lumber to his daughter, Maggie, in 1992.

Robert W. “Bob” Shepherd, 75, retired vice president of Sierra-Pacific Industries, Anderson, Ca., died Jan. 6. He served as structural lumber sales manager at Sierra Pacific from 1995-2012, after working as a vice president for Fiberboard and Louisiana-Pacific.

Floyd Billings, lumber salesman with Elk Creek Forest Products, McMinnville, Or., passed away Jan. 7, soon after beginning treatment for a recent cancer diagnosis. He was 84.

Floyd spent the last 15 years with Elk Creek, after retiring from a lengthy career in lumber sales at Hull-Oakes Lumber, Monroe, Or.

John Gerald “Jerry” Erickson, 85, longtime owner of Levee Lumber, Hoquiam, Wa., died Dec. 21.

Jerry started the business in 1984 when he and Merrill Albert purchased Bayview Building Materials, Hoquiam. A few years later, he bought out his partner and later added branches in Westport and Ocean Shores, Wa. He sold the yards to Tom Weber in 2007.

Ross H. Mounsey, 93, longtime Spokane, Wa., lumber trader and executive, died Dec. 29 in Spokane.

Upon graduating from Stanford University in 1951, Ross enlisted in the U.S. Navy and graduated in 1952 from its Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I. His first commission was as the executive officer of a subchaser based in San Diego, Ca. As the Korean War continued, Ross was redeployed to Yokosuka, Japan, where he was head of security at the naval base where he was stationed.

A Stanford graduate, Gordon served in the U.S. Navy, then joined his father-in-law in the lumber business.

William A. “Bill” Riedlinger, 83, retired Central California lumberman, died Jan. 10 in Phoenix, Az.

After graduating from the University of Oregon, Bill moved to San Leandro, Ca., and joined Georgia Pacific. He rose to branch manager in Salinas, Ca., then in 1975 to branch manager in Fresno. He launched his own lumber brokerage, California Wholesale Lumber, Fresno, in 1993.

Patsy Ruth Edwards, 91, former co-owner of Durango Hardware, Durango, Co., passed away recently in Farmington, N.M.

She and her late husband, Shelton Edwards, operated the store through the 1950s until the early 1960s.

Robert Louis “Bob” Mandel, 79, former owner of ABZ Lumber Co., Denver, Co., passed away on Jan. 15.

After graduating from the University of Southern California, Bob joined his father, Marvin Mandel, in ABZ Lumber and eventually became the sole owner.

Christy Ann Driscoll, 65, building material salesperson at Fred Meyer, Bellingham, Wa., died Jan. 14 after a year-long battle with cancer.

Dale Richmond Oakes, veteran Oregon lumber grader, died Jan. 12 at the age of 74.

Following two years of service in the U.S. Army, he began his near-40-year career as a lumber grader with Fort Hill Lumber Co., Grand Ronde, Or., and later Hampton Lumber, Willamina, Or.

Charles “Huck” DeVenzio, 75, retired manager of marketing communications for Lonza Wood Protection, died of Parkinson’s disease on Dec. 6.

A graduate of both Cornell and the University of Pittsburgh, he worked as marketing manager for Wolmanized Wood with Lonza (now Arxada) and predecessor companies Hickson and Arch from 1989 until 2013.

An adventurer with an irrepressible sense of humor, Huck explored the world, raced an America’s Cup yacht, set an international aviation speed record, performed on stage with Italian opera singers, yodeled with a Swiss folk group, entered the ring with a professional wrestler, edited six books, and produced a half-hour TV show.

Listings are often submitted months in advance. Always verify dates and locations with sponsor before making plans to attend.

Orgill – Feb. 9-11, spring dealer market, Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, La.; www.orgill.com.

Sierra-Cascade Logging Conference – Feb. 9-11, Shasta District Fairgrounds, Anderson, Ca.; www.sclcexpo.com.

Sacramento Hoo-Hoo Club – Feb. 11, Valentines dinner & dance, Delta King Riverboat, Old Sacramento, Ca.; www.hoohoo109.org.

Southern California Hoo-Hoo Club – Feb. 15, election meeting/golf, Los Serranos Country Club, Chino, Ca.; www.hoohoo117.org.

Cameron Ashley Building Products – Feb. 21-24, dealer show, Royal Pacific Universal, Orlando, Fl.; www.cameronashleybp.com.

Western Building Material Association – Feb. 22-23, sales/marketing conference, Portland, Or.; www.wbma.org.

Western Wood Preservers Association – Feb. 22-23, winter meeting, Westin Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego, Ca.; www.wwpinstitute.org.

Frame Building Expo – Feb. 22-24, sponsored by National Frame Builders Association, Kentucky International Convention Center, Louisville, Ky.; www.nfba.org.

Oregon Logging Conference – Feb. 23-25, Lane County Events Center & Fairgrounds, Eugene, Or.; www.oregonloggingconference.com.

California Forestry Assn. – Feb. 27-28, annual Forestry Strategies & Innovations, conference, Kimpton Sawyer Hotel, Sacramento, Ca.; www.calforests.org.

American Fence Association – Feb. 28-March 3, FenceTech, Oklahoma City, Ok.; www.americanfenceassociation.com.

National Wooden Pallet & Container Assn. – March 1-3, annual leadership conference & expo, Fort Worth, Tx.; www.palletcentral.com.

Inspired Home Show – March 4-7, McCormick Place, Chicago, Il.; www. theinspiredhomeshow.com.

LMC – March 8-10, annual meeting, Charlotte, N.C.; www.lmc.net.

Do it Best – March 11-13, spring market, Orlando, Fl.; www.doitbest.com.

Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Expo – March 11-13, Kentucky Expo Center, Louisville, Ky.; www.hpbexpo.com.

North American Wholesale Lumber Association – March 12-14, Leadership Summit, Palm Desert, Ca.; www.nawla.org.

Ace Hardware – March 13-16, spring convention, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, Tx.; www.acehardware.com.

University of Innovative Distribution – March 13-16, Indianapolis, In.; www.univid.org.

Emery Jensen Distribution – March 13-April 26, virtual Edge show; www.emeryjensen.com.

Pacific Northwest Association of Rail Shippers – March 14-15, spring meeting, Portland, Or.; www.pnrailshippers.com.

Black Bart Hoo-Hoo Club – March 15, initiation meeting, Charles Grill, Windsor, Ca.; mazzo.massoletti@att.net.

Redwood Region Logging Conference – March 16-18, Ukiah, Ca.; www. rrlc.net.

True Value – March 17-19, Spring Reunion show, McCormick Place, Chicago, Il.; www.truevaluecompany.com.

Hardwood Manufacturers Assn. – March 22-24, national conference & expo, JW Marriott, Nashville, Tn.; www.hmamembers.org.

Pasadena Home Show – March 25-26, Pasadena Convention Center, Pasadena, Ca.; www.pasadenahomeshow.com.

International Mass Timber Conference – March 27-29, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Or.; www.masstimberconference.com.

National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association – March 28-30, spring meeting & legislative conference; March 29-April 2, industry summit, Washington, D.C.; www.dealer.org.