Foxworth-Galbraith at the century mark

[rOUNoeD in May 1901, FoxI' worth-Galbraith Lumber Co., Dallas, Tx., had its origins in the Texas Panhandle and New Mexico, where the firm opened lumberyards in strategically selected towns, following the railroads as development began in the growing Southwestern region.

three yards in New Mexico over the next two years. It was after the opening of their third location that the two men encountered Foxworth, who by this time, was an owner of a pair of yards himself. The trio merged in May 1901 and named their five-yard business the Jackson-Foxworth-Galbraith Company. Thus was the origin of what in a few years, upon the death of Mr. Jackson, would be known as the Foxworth-Galbraith Lumber Co.

broaden the customer base even further prompted the development of a new concept, "Building Materials Centers," which began with the reconstruction of the Denton, Tx., yard, and then followed with a new building at Whitesboro. Tx. The idea was to have a central store that displayed traditional building materials as well as the many new products arriving on the market. By 1976, the company had 51 Building Materials Centers.

Today, the company has building material centers, distribution centers, manufacturing facilities, truss plants, and commercial and professional divisions at 80 locations in Texas, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. These outlets provide a wide range of services and merchandise to professional builders, contractors and do-ityourselfers.

The story of Foxworth-Galbraith began in the waning years of the 19th Century when a young Mississippian named Walter Lenoir Foxworth was hired as a bookkeeper for LutcherMoore Lumber Co. in Orange, Tx. As Foxworth was learning his trade, two young brothers, H.W. and J.C. Galbraith, also were honing their skills with Burton-Lingo Lumber Co., Kerrville, Tx. In 1901, an opportunity arose for H.W. when a man named A.P. Jackson, who operated two retail lumberyards in the Territory of New Mexico, told his friend Burton of Burton-Lingo Lumber that he needed help. Burton recommended Galbraith, who in short order become Jackson's partner.

Looking to capitalize on the growth of the region through expansion of their business, the two men opened

In 1904, H.W. Galbraith went to El Paso, where he purchased Caples Lumber Co. and El Paso Sash & Door Co., the latter reportedly the first in the nation to make medicine cabinets and ironing boards as packaged merchandise. In 1906 the company purchased National Lumber & Creosoting Co., Texarkana, Tx., to meet the demand for large quantities of telephone and telegraph poles and railroad ties. Besides expansion, adaptability to changing conditions was an essential element for the firm's success and growth. For instance, when an army camp was established at Deming, N.M., prior to World War II, the firm opened a yard there to supply the camp.

In the 1980s, a new truss plant was added outside Gilbert, Az., which in time would manufacture enough trusses in a month to build 350 houses. This was an aspect ofthe business that would be expanded in the years to come. By the year 2000, the company had eight truss plants.

By 1999, Foxworth-Galbraith was the l6th largest pro dealer in the nation. with 33 buildins material centers, 2l commercial and professional divisions, four distribution centers, three door manufacturing facilities, and eight truss plants, for a total of 55 retail operations and 80 total locations.