Direct lmporters of Hardwood

Rex Edward "Ed" Fountain Sr., 107, founder of Ed Fountain Lumber Co., Los Angeles, Ca., died April 14 in Los Angeles.

He started in the lumber business in 1922, unloading lumber off ships in Long Beach, Ca., for Consolidated Lumber, San Francisco, Ca. After moving to Consolidated's L.A. office, he launched his own wholesale business in 1937.

He retired in 1992, and his son, Ed Fountain Jr., merged his father's company with his industrials business.

Ron Henkle, 62, lumber broker at Progressive Services, Beaverton, Or., died April 23 in Lake Oswego, Or.

He began his career in the 1970s, with North Pacific, Portland, Or. He then worked at Cascade Empire, Portland; Pan Pacific Forest Products, Lake Oswego, and other companies before joining Progressive last year.

Frank C. Durk Jr., 81, retired vice president and western retail division manager for Diamond International, Sacramento. Ca.. died June 22 in Hayden,Id.

After serving with the Army in Korea, he became a lumber handler at Diamond Match Co., Williams, Ca.

He later managed Diamond's yard in Lodi, Ca., before being promoted to the company's headquarters in Sacramento. He retired in 1984, after 34 years.

Edwin William "Bill" Friedlander, 70, salesman at Permapost Products, Hillsboro, Or., died May 28 in Bend, Or.

He joined the company in 1990.

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Henry ttHank" Jensen, 96, retired sales manager of Murphy Creek Lumber, Murphy, Or., died June 7 in Grants Pass, Or.

He retired in the 1980s after spending most of his life in the industry.

Stanley Edward Jantzer, 92, retired Northern California lumberman, died June 8 in Mount Shasta, Ca.

During World War II, he served with the Army in the Philippines.

He started in the industry as a logger and mill worker. He later coowned Siskiyou Cedar Products, then retired as a mill engineer for P&M Cedar Products, Redding, Ca.

Drying is Their Specialty

Innovative Drying Technologies, Ridgefield, Wa., has opened, offering a wide variety of wood drying and conditioning equipment from major international manufacturers

"Once customers become familiar with the wide range of equipment we offer, they'll think of us as a one-stopshop for all their drying needs," said sales manager Theo Leonov.

The new company currently markets PCSI control systems, PCS VacDry vacuum kilns, and Eberl Trocknugsanlagen vacuum kilns, and is in negotiations to market kilns from

MAHILD Drying Technologies.

Other members of the management team include R. Lynn Forsberg, who will be responsible for day-to-day management of the company, and William T. Hull, who will serve as marketing manager.

Colorado Dealers Team Up

South Park True Value, Fairplay, Co., is leasing five additional acres so it can expand into lumber sales with the recent closure of Hutchison Lumber, Fairplay.

South Park will be supplied by Breckenridge Building Center, Breckenridge, Co., and the two dealers will split the profits.

EcoBlu Opens Truss Plant

EcoBlu Products, Vista, Ca., has formed subsidiary E Build & Truss, Oceanside, Ca.

The company can now offer full turnkey products and services to Southern California builders, including Red Shield lumber, labor and truss packages.

Rail Line Returns to Nor Cal

Northwestern Pacific Railroad, which closed in 2001 due to storm damage, may soon reopen for cargo shipments in Napa and Sonoma counties. Repairs of the 62 miles of track cost $68 million.

"We want to get rail service to our plant," said Richard Caletti, president of Standard Structures, Windsor, Ca., which makes engineered wood beams, trusses and joists for commercial constructlon.

He said that rail service lowers the cost of receiving raw material and makes it possible to compete for jobs in other parts of the country.

DOMESTIC SALES: Jerry Long, Michael Parrella, Janet Pimentel, Pete Ulloa, George Parden, Vince Galloway, Chris Hexburg, Matt Wright, Bert McKee, Joe McCarron.

INTERNATIONAL SALES: Nestor Pimentel.

Service is slated to begin with 15car trains and three round trips a month.

INTERNATIONAL Forest Products, Vancouver, 8.C.,