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A Silver Anniversary
One of the major hardwood companies in the West's biggest single market, southern California, is currently celebrating its silver anniversary. It was 25 years ago this month that Sid Simmons took the plunge and went into business for himself and established Simmons Hardwood Lumber Co.
He was no stranger to the business even then. Emigrating from England in the early 1920s, he was employed by the Bohnhoff Lumber Co. as a salesman and eventually became a part owner. He worked for Bohnhoff for over a quarter-century.
An energetic and hardworking individual. Simmons built the business over the years, aided by a strong team that included, during the first few years, his late wife Ann, the former general manager Roy Stillwell, now retired and the present v.p. and general manager, Gale Daugherty, who joined the team 16 years ago.
Other long time employees include yard superintendent Bill Deuel who signed on one week after the company started. The seven day lag is accounted for by the fact that he was employed by Bohnhoff Lumber and wanted to give them a week's notice. Dorothy Simons is the controller and recently celebrated her 23rd year with the firm.
Moving from a previous location in Downey,May l, 1968, Simmons' operation now occupies five acres with three large warehouses with more than 50,000 sq. ft. under cover: has a complete custom mill facility on the premisesl three big trucks, four lift trucks: and is plugged into the Union Pacific system by their rail spur.
The firm has 30 employees: Sid Simmons, president, Gale Daugherty, v.p. and general manager: Russ Mitchell, sales manager: and Dorothy Simons, credit manager. Sales staff includes Jean Parrish, Tom Reifer, Dave Walther, and Bruce Erickson. Office staff includes Rita Gonzales and Trudy Hughes.
A new addition to the company is Vic Simmons,who recently moved here from England where he was the managing director of a large industrial firm.
The firm sells a complete line of Eastern hardwoods as well as Pacific Coast alder and maple and also carries assorted imported species in their sizeable inventory. Ross-Simmons, a mill half owned by Sid Simmons at Longview,Wa., supplies Pacific Coast hardwoods.
MOVERS of the company include (lop left) standing, left to right: Russ Mitchell, sales mgr.; Gale Daugherty, v.p., Bill Deuel, yard superintendant. Seated: Dorothy Simons, credit manager; Sid Simmons, president. Top right: lronl row, left to right: Rita Gonzales, Dorothy Simons, Trudy Hughes. Upper row, Gale Daugherty, Sid Simmons, Russ Mitchell; top: Bruce Erickson. Lower left: back row, T.R. Turner, Harold Simmons, Jose Castro, Walter Pittman, Sam Allegra, Gale Daugherty, Sid Simmons, Bill Deuel, Victor Simmons. Kneeling, Meal Buyard, Louie Quinttanilla, Mario Ruiz, Tony Calderon, Rufus Austin. Lower righl: Bruce Erickson, Russ Mitchell, Daugherty (rear) Vic Simmons, Jean Parrish, Sid Simmons, Tom Reiler (rear) and Dave Walther.
There are usually a number of reasons to account for a firm's success, but among those singled out by industry observers are Simmons' reputation for selling a top grade of lumber and being sticklers for an honest tally. Yard super Bill Deuel also gets high marks for housekeeping in their smoothly operating yard.
And, of course, the dynamic Sid Simmons.
f) UILDING material distributors
L)and lumbermen met recently at a joint regional gathering of the National Building Material Distributors Assn. and the North American Wholesale Lumber Assn. for a meeting on credit practices. Nearly 40 key industry people were present for the gathering held aboard the Queen Mary at Long Beach, Ca.
Dick Freeman, So-Cal Commercial, Los Angeles, and current NBMDA national president, was the moderator for a panel that included Doug Ilazel-
