J. FI. Foresman Dies

Forty-two Years Vith Long Bell Lumber Sales Corporation

J. H. Foresma,n

Ioseoh Harry Foresman, vice-president and general man"r".t oi retail interests of the Long-Bell Lumber Sales CoroBirtio", died unexpectedly on Monday evening, May 18' it his home in Kansas CitY, Mo' 'Mr. Foresman l\'as born July 21, 1863, at Decatur, Ill', the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jimes B. Foresman' He sp-ent most of his boyhood on a iarm. The family moved t-g-.L"i"y"tt", Ind., when Mr. Foresman was ten.y.ears g]d' W\::] he was seventeen years old he went to Wichita, I(as', wtth his Iamilv. and worked on a farm near there until he was ;;;;;;;rs old. He then went with the S. A. Brown LumU.. Cirtitpuny of Paola, Kas., as a yard man' When Mr' For".-utt was with the S. A. Brown Lumber Company, Mr. E. C. Robinson, part owner of the comPany' le.cage inierested in him and ifter three y-ears of service with the .o*o""u. Mr. Robinson sent Mr. Foresman to Baker Unilr"r.itv io complete his commercial education' Returning from fiaker University he entered the S. A. Brown Lumber ComDanv's general office at Ottawa, Kas'. where he re*"i"'.a ior itetal years' During this same perl-o-d he also had charge of a lumber yard at-Williamsbyrg' Kra;'-

In 1887, Miss Addie Lenora Mason, da-ughter of Mr' and Mrs. F. M. M"so.t, McCune, Kas., and Mr' Foresman were mairied. They had met while atte-nding Baker lJniversity'

Two vears after his r44rriage, Mr. Foresman entered the service bi ttt. Long-Bef Lumber Company as-.yard-manager at Erie, Kas. -He was transferred to. Joplin, .I!!9" i" i893, attd became auditor o! the Joplil.division in 1901' In Tanuarv. lX)Z, he went to Oklahoma City. where he estabi;.tt.d ihe Minnetonka Lumber Company. a Long-Bell subsidiarv. which later became a company division' He was treasrirer and general manager of the Minnetonka comDANY. '

N'ovember 15, 1903, Mr' Foresman went to Kansas City, Mo., to take charge of all retail interests.-of- the Long-Brcll .o*p"tty as geneial manager of the retail department. He was'elected i director of ihe company the same year and vice-president and a member of the executive committee in r9t4.

Mr. Foresman was associated with the Southwestern Retail Lumbermen's Association for more than twenty-five years, holding the office of treasurer for -seventeen years' if e became itJ second vice-president in 1923, first vice-president in 1924, and president in 1925.

Mr. Foresman undertook no task without putting into it all of his energy and thought. He knew the p-roblems of the retail lumb-er dealer and yard manager. He knew and was personally interested in his men',and rejoiced with them as -they climbed to greater responsibilities.

Tn 1923 at a meeting of Long-Bell yard managers he made a talk in which he strissed the point that selling conditions were changing and that thought and study must be put on this point -in -order to make progress. "I am still going to school," he said. "'We must go ahead learning new things, finding new ways, developing new methods' I learned in one school, but I can't stop with that or I'll be left behind. I'm going to learn these new things and see for myself if they mean progress-and all of you must do the same thing or be left behind." l. Choose your vocation carefully.

In 1928 he said, "All about you is an invisible market for lumber. Every person of pride and means in your community represents an undeveloped asset. Notwithstanding this market is invisible, it is nevertheless real, providing the lumberman makes the necessary effort to cash in on it. The invisible market is an elastic market, its size depending only on the wealth of the community and upon salesmanship."

He had six rules for success which he endeavored to follow.

2. Work at it at the top of your ability.

3. Always keep yourself 10O per cent fit physically.

4. Try to associate with men of as strong character as possible.

5. Don't talk Luck is a greatly or worry about good luck or bad luck. over-rated factor in the world today.

6. Be prepared constantly for the acid test that comes in evervbodv's life.

He worked diligently, he applied himself thoroughly and made every effort to demonstrate his worth. His conduct in the various positions to which he was promoted earned for him the highest respect of all who knew him, his makeup and his personality. He loved his organization and in turn held the esteem and love of the Long-Bell Family. His service record with Long-Bell covers a period ol 42 years. He was in the lumber business 49 years.

His favorite motto, and one that he called his "guiding star", was this-

"Application and hard work spell success."

Mr. Foresman always took an active interest in civic and church affairs in Kansas City. lle was chairman of the building committee of the Linwood Boulevard Methodist Church, had headed the finance committee, and had been president of the men's Bible class. He was treasurer of the Good Will Industries and recently had been appointed treasurer of the City Church Extension Society.

An enthusiastic golfer, he was a member of the Mission Hills Golf Club. He was also a member of Ararat Shrine and Temple lodge.

Heis survived by his widow, two daughters, Mrs. Charles W. Goodrum, Kansas City, and Mrs. John Alden Towers, Philadelphia; three sisters, Mrs. Daniel Hinthorn, Independence, Mo.; Mrs. Herbert Hays and Miss Mary D. Foresman of Kansas City, and two brothers, J. A. Foresman and Frank Foresman. both of Neosho, Mo.

Funeral services were held on Thursday afternoon, May 21. from the familv residence with Dr. Georse A. McDon, from family yith George i. Linwood Blvd. M. E. Chfirch. Bishop E. L. Waldorf, ald, Chfirch, Bishop and Dr. Grant A. Robbins of Carthage, Mo., officiating. Burial was at Forest Hill Abbey.