Page 8 - GormanBros_70th Newsletter_Final_Web

8 GORMAN GROUP EDGE / ISSUE #1

Things were not always easy. Disaster struck in November 1969,
when an electrical short caused a massive fire that destroyed the
recently modernized Gorman Bros. Lumber mill in Westbank.
This disaster proved to be a turning point for the company and
diversification became the buzzword of the 1970s. Fruit bin
production was slowly reduced, and the focus moved to specialty
products, such as one-inch boards and pattern products.

Jon R Neal, Mayor - City of Oroville, Washington

As the Mayor of the City of Oroville, I would first like to congratulate the Gorman family and
business operations on their success and longevity. They have been a vital contributor in the
continued success of the community of Oroville and the surrounding area. Whether it be by the
number of people it employs or through the continued support we have received in projects
and donations. Having their operations located here is a much needed boost to our economy.
Throughout my years in city government, Gorman’s has been a fair and equitable partner in
making improvements to their operations and the safety of the community. Here’s to your
continued success and prosperity and to another 70 years.

In 1977, a significant capital project ran behind schedule and the mill was shut down for a few weeks. John and
Ross were uneasy about how bills and paycheques would be paid as cash flow was running low. As December
approached, the employees brainstormed for an appropriate Christmas gift to the Gorman brothers, and a plan
was made. On a snowy Saturday morning in early January 1978, Ross was shoveling snow off his mother’s roof,
when he heard the machine centres firing up. When he went to investigate, he found 62 employees working
– for free! Andy Carr, current Gorman Sales Representative, was one of those working and remembers, “we
had just been running for about an hour when suddenly I looked up, and on the catwalk, Ross and John were
standing there with a total look of shock and surprise on their faces. They were so taken aback by what the guys
were doing for them that they were both nearly in tears. It made quite a splash in the local news media and even
ended up in the Readers Digest!” This “gift”, as it was remembered, produced 56,953 board feet of lumber and
an estimated $2,333 in revenue.