In Memoriam Robert Roy
In Memoriam Robert Roy Bushman, Sr. Robert Roy (“Bob”) Bushman, Sr., 93, has passed away at his home in Sykesville, MD due to complications related to COVID-19. Bushman began his forestry career with the Maryland Department of Forest, Parks and Wildlife, then became assistant manager of a small forest products company in Baltimore, MD. In 1956, he became general manager of The Mann and Parker Lumber Co., a Baltimore-based lumber distributor, and shortly thereafter purchased the company. He married a customer’s daughter, Lorine “Honey” Protzman, in 1957. Mann and Parker moved its headquarters to New Freedom, PA in 1972. Under Bushman’s leadership, it became one of the largest independent distributors of forest products in the Middle Atlantic states. In the 1990s, Bushman formed an affiliated company in Meadville, PA, the M&P Lumber Company, LLC, at which all four of his sons worked. Bushman was an active member in a number of associations, often serving on the respective board of directors, including the Society of American Foresters (since 1949); past chairman, Maryland Board of Registration for Professional Foresters from 1972-83 – in fact, Mr. Bushman was one of the original five officially registered Professional Foresters in the state; delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business (1980); Industry Sector Advisory Committee for Lumber and Wood Products, U.S. Department of Commerce (1980- 82); Pennsylvania Forest Industry Advisory Committee; past director and president, Keystone Kiln Drying Association; past chairman, Hardwood Committee, North American Wholesale Lumber Association; past director, Hardwood Distributor’s Association; past director, Northern Hardwood and Pine Association; past director and president, Lumber Trade Association. He also served on advisory committees and boards for several universities. He is survived by his four sons: Robert, Jr., Christopher, Stephen and David; five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, a brother and a sister. Bushman Please turn to page 57 HIGHEST QUALITY HARDWOODS WWW.WINSTONHARDWOOD.COM Jason Johnson, owner, standing in front of some Winston kiln dried stock New 120,000 BF Nyle dry kilns • PRODUCING 20 MILLION BOARD FEET ANNUALLY • NOW OFFERING MULTIPLE THICKNESSES OF KILN DRIED LUMBER, DOMESTIC AND EXPORT PREPPED, FLAT BED OR CONTAINER LOADING • WHITE OAK, RED OAK, POPLAR, ASH, HICKORY, WALNUT, CHERRY AND MANY OTHER SOUGHT-AFTER APPALACHIAN SPECIES 22551 Highway 195, Double Springs, AL 35553 • Phone: (205)489-2979 • Fax: (205)489-3493 • winstonhardwood@usa.com 38 JUNE 2020 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE
NORTHEAST Continued from page 6 lumber industry just can’t catch a break.” Soft Maple (FAS, No. 1 and 2 Common) in 4/4 through 6/4 thicknesses is his top-selling Hardwood species. “Hard Maple seems to have had a resurgence. Red Oak has been doing OK and we’ve been doing OK with Cherry, though we’re not exactly where we would like to be.” Customers are distributors and end users. “They’re really not sure where things are going on their end, either,” the source commented. “Everybody is in unsure times. Some businesses I’ve talked to say they’ve actually done fairly well during this time, but others have not. I think it just depends on what regulations are in place for that particular state, especially when you’re trying to run a business.” The contact noted that his business is not running machinery at 100 percent capacity so that social distancing of six feet between employees is maintained. Employees are wiping down equipment with disinfectant wipes at the start and end of each shift and break. “We’re doing everything to try to remain healthy,” he said, adding the office staff is working remotely from home. In New Hampshire, a lumber wholesaler said he and five co-workers were working from the office and that his lumberyards were operating normally. “We’re staying optimistic, working hard and getting by,” he commented, adding the business was doing OK. “Exports to Asia are stronger, domestics are weaker due to the virus,” the source remarked. Red and White Oak, Soft Maple, Yellow Birch and Beech in all grades are selling the best, mainly in 4/4 thicknesses. His company also sells Ash, Hickory, Hard Maple, Basswood and Yellow Poplar to distribution yards and end users. “A good deal of the domestic customers are a lot slower due to the virus,” he reported. Is he dealing with any other challenges besides the coronavirus? “The whole international shipping schedule is gooped up with the virus, so international shipping is a challenge for container bookings. Some dates are way out and rates have gone up a little bit,” the contact said. n SOUTHEAST Continued from page 8 and White Oak (both FAS, Nos. 1 and 2 Common) being in greatest demand overseas. Red Oak is preferred in 4/4 and 5/4 thicknesses, while White Oak is selling well in 4/4 through 6/4 thicknesses. His business also sells Hickory and Cypress. The contact noted that a wet winter and spring has caused his company’s Georgia facility to have its lowest log supply in the 13 years that he has worked there. In central Alabama, another sawmill contact said his com- Please turn the page Manufacturers of approximately 170 million bd. ft. a year of Southern Hardwood and Cypress lumber products Linwood Truitt and John Stevenson are in charge of kiln-dried lumber sales at Beasley Forest Products / Thompson Hardwoods; and Ray Turner and Paul Cabrol are in industrial sales at Beasley Forest Products / Thompson Hardwoods. Contact Ray at (912) 253-9001, or by e-mail at ray.turner@beasleygroup.com. Contact Paul at (912) 403-8501, or by e-mail at paul.cabrol@beasleygroup.com. For you, we at Beasley Forest Products / Thompson Hardwoods offer: • sorted and random widths in Red Oak (4/4), White Oak (4/4), Poplar (4/4 & 8/4), Ash (4/4 & 8/4) and Cypress (4/4 & 8/4) for export or domestic shipment. • 1.7 million bd. ft. kiln capacity. • Cypress framing timbers and manufacture various tongue-and-groove patterns. • pallet components (cut stock) and pallet cants. • cross ties and industrial timbers. • crane mats for the pipeline industry. • prompt delivery with company trucks and local trucking companies. Beasley Forest Products, Inc. P.O. Box 788 • Hazlehurst, Georgia 31539 Phone: (912) 375-5174 ext. 4303 • Fax: (912) 375-9191 Web Address: www.beasleyforestproducts.com SALES: Linwood Truitt Cell: (912) 253-9000 E-mail: linwood.truitt@beasleygroup.com Thompson Hardwoods, Inc. P.O. Box 788 • Hazlehurst, GA 31539 Phone: (912) 375-5174 ext. 4384 • Fax: (912) 375-9191 Web Address: www.thompsonhardwoods.com SALES: John Stevenson Cell: (912) 375-8226 E-mail: john.stevenson@beasleygroup.com JUNE 2020 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 39
