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Show t I: W. C. Kurtz, Jr., Sec. Independent Lumber Co. Independent Lumber Company celebrates 75th Anniversary This year represents a milestone in the history of the Independent Lumber Company, Com-pany, the parent company of Moab Lumber. The firm is celebrating its 75th year of active participation in Western West-ern Slope business. A special diamond insignia has been designed to commemorate the Diamond Anniversary and company officials have compiled com-piled a detailed history of the firm's growth. According to James B. Kurtz, President and Chief Executive Officer, Independent Indepen-dent Lumber has expanded from a two-man operation in Paonia, Colorado to a multi-division multi-division company with over four hundred employees serving serv-ing a six-state area. Founded in 1902 by C. A. Biggs and Gilbert Campbell, the firm has remained a family operation over the years. Campbell sold his stock to Biggs in the early years and in 1907 Mr. Biggs' son-in-law, W. C. Kurtz, joined the firm. Kurtz took over as President in 1918 and actively served in that position for 53 years. His J? 7."' ' B S s James B. Kurtz, President Independent Lumber Co. son, James B. Kurtz, has headed the company since 1971. Independent Lumber Company Com-pany is proud to have played an active role in the growth of each of the nineteen Western Slope communities which it serves. The company attributes attri-butes much of its success to individual intiative at the local level. According to Kurtz, "Because local citizens are best qualified to judge the needs of their particular communities, com-munities, we have consistently consistent-ly maintained a high percentage percent-age of local people on our payroll." This vested interest in each community has resulted result-ed in the kind of mutual support necessary for healthy business growth. The company also has long encouraged employee participation partici-pation in company policy. In addition to a profit sharing plan and other benefits, Independent Inde-pendent Lumber also offers an ownership trust whereby all eligible employees actually own stock in the company. In its seventy-five years, Independent Lumber has purchased pur-chased and sold over one hundred lumber yards and three sawmills, one of which was, in its day, the largest in the state at McPhee, Colorado. Colo-rado. The present officers are W. C. Kurtz, Honorary Chairman; Chair-man; James B. Kurtz, President Presi-dent and Chief Executive Officer; James S. Ellis, Floyde H. Hughes and Robert J.. Bergman, Vice-Presidents; W. C. Kurtz, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer Secretary-Treasurer and W. H. Bigum, Assistant Secretary-Treasurer. Directors are Frances K. Lundberg, T. J. Sardy, W. C. Kurtz, Jr., James B. Kurtz and W. C. Kurtz, Honorary Director. |