William B. Dean

(From the Diamond Bulletin)

Mr. W. B. Dean, General Manager of the California Lumbe.r Operations, was born and reared on a farm in Hancock County, Illinois. When he was about fourteen years of age his family migrated to sunny California, taking the "flyer," which in those days took only two weeks to make the trip in a combined sleeper and dining-car in which the raihoad furnished the bunks and stove and the passengers furnished the bedding, food and cooking.

When seventeen years of age Mr. Dean (called Billy then) entered the employ of the Sierra Lumber Company as office boy in the Chico ofrice. He must, even thecr, have had the same qualities that he has now, for he progressed steadily to clerk, billing clerk, bookkeeper and, finally, became Manager of the Sierra Lumber Company's manufacturing and wholesale plants, together with four of their retail yards.

In March 1907, all the interests of the Sierra Lumber Company were acquired by Tho Diamond Match Company and, among other valuable assets, our Company acquired the services of Mr. Dean, who entered the employ of this Company as Superintendent of all seven retail yards. His loyalty, industry, perseverance and natural ability soon proved that the retail yards could be made to be a suitable investment for the Company, instead of a liability as was ofttimes stated, and under Mr. Dean's management and supervision, with executive encouragement, the system of yards has been steadily and gradually increasgd until the origfural seven have grown to forty-seven in number.

In 1916 Mr. Dean was promoted to Manager in charge of all Sales Departments of the California Lumber Operations, and in 1923 was again advanced and made Generd Manager of the Lumber Operations of the Company in California,

Mr. Dean has always interested himseU in the welfare of Chico, the Sacramento Vdley and the State of California, having served the local Chamber of Commerce, Sacramtnto Valley Development Association and a number of other civic organizations. He is a Shriner and also a member of the Rotary Club.

Like rnany others, Mr. Dean has a hobby. Some say that this hobby is.boosting California, but probably his real hobby is "'Work." He gives his best at all times;.demands from all his-employees their best; and when they give it he is appreciative of their efforts.