What a Blast!

June 29th, 2002 went down as a day and night to remember. Roughly two thousand Wood-Mizer sawmill owners, employees, family members, and friends made the journey to the world headquarters in Indianapolis. There’s no doubt the months of planning paid off. There was so much to see and do, it was impossible to capture it all on film! But this is a look back at some of the memorable moments of the birthday party. Enjoy!

Morning has Broken…
Every day for two weeks leading up to the big event, chief planner, and head of Wood-Mizer’s Industrial Sales Division, Kevin Corder, checked out those extended weather forecasts. He regularly sent weather updates to his planning committee. Corder even kept one of those forecasts hanging up in his office. Throughout the planning process, there were many weather worries. But when morning broke June 29th, the glorious sun was sharing her rays with the world below, and clear skies were a sure bet.

Folks poured in the registration gates bright and early. There was lots of socializing, and catching up with old pals in the hour before opening ceremonies began. Then the crowd moved into the show arena, sat down on the bleachers, and received the “official welcome”. Human Resources Director Gary Black, who is also an ordained minister, delivered the opening remarks and a prayer for all in attendance. Then, Black created an undeniable moment of pride, by leading the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance, with special emphasis on the words “under God”. The crowd clearly enjoyed the rebuke of a Federal judge’s decision to declare that phrase “unconstitutional”!

Lynsey Laskowski, granddaughter of Wood-Mizer founder Don Laskowski, provided a perfectly soulful rendition of our National Anthem. Then her granddad took the podium. Don thanked everyone who came, and lead the crowd in a round of applause for co-founder Dan Tekulve, who Don describes as “one of the best engineers I know”. Don also reminded everyone of Wood-Mizer’s belief that “family is at the core of everything”. Don then introduced his son Dan Laskowski, who is now carrying the family torch as CCEO of Wood-Mizer. Dan outlined his plans to make sure there will be even more reasons to celebrate in the years to come.

A representative from the office of Indiana Governor Frank O’Bannon read a letter of thanks from the state, then turned the microphone over to Dave Mann, head of Wood-Mizer domestic sales. After instructions to the crowd, the celebration was underway!

Pork Chops, Comedy, and Country Music
After a successful day on the Wood-Mizer grounds, no one expected the evening to be even more exciting. It was! Guests sank their teeth into a scrumptious pork chop dinner. Comedian Carl Hurley’s brand of down-home humor triggered frequent laughter. The ambiance at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Blue Ribbon Pavilion was just as nice as the food. Spotlights glared with the Wood-Mizer logo, and one light constantly beamed down on the LT30 Anniversary Sawmill that would end up going home with one of the partygoers.

Once again, the affable Gary Black, Human Resources Director of Wood-Mizer, showed his talent for public speaking, as he announced the winners of door prizes. The prizes included lamps, sawmill replicas—even a George Foreman Grill. But the most anticipated part of the evening—the sawmill giveaway—would have to wait until Larry Gatlin had delivered his last note.

After Mr. Gatlin had wrapped up his set, you could practically hear people taking very deep breaths. Gary Black, along with organizer Kevin Corder, got the ball rolling. Larry Gatlin first awarded the sawmill to himself – then announced the real winner – Eugene Davis from Leicester, North Carolina...

At first, Davis and his wife of 42 years, Cecile, weren’t so sure they had heard right. Mr. Gatlin hadn’t pronounced “Leicester” quite right, so Cecile doubted they had won. But Eugene was confident they had. “I told my wife, ‘let’s go up there, that’s us.’ By then, I was really getting pumped up.” They were sitting all the way in the back of the large pavilion, to ensure a fast exit when the festivities had ended. Turns out, they were the last ones to leave! The couple sprinted up to the stage like kids in a candy store. They shook hands with Larry Gatlin, hugged Don Laskowski, then posed for pictures by their new mill. The evening’s emcee, Gary Black, asked Eugene if he came prepared to haul a mill. The answer was “yes”. “I jokingly told my wife before we went up there, – “I’ll take the truck up there so we can haul the mill home when we win.” The joke’s on them! The shock has yet to wear off. “With all the cards in that drum, something with more power than mine had to direct him to that card. I just couldn’t believe I won that sawmill. It was a shocker.”

Davis has operated a woodworking shop in Appalachia since 1995. That’s the year the Air Force Veteran took early retirement from his job at an appliance company. His Wood-Mizer LT40HDG24 has done everything expected of it – and more. “I haven’t been without a customer waiting on me since 1995.” Davis also has a Wood-Mizer kiln. With his woodworking business, he has built himself a small home, a log home for someone else, works on cottages for a local campground, and takes numerous custom cutting jobs. But in that low-income area of the country, Davis does not make money his first priority. If someone runs out of money in the middle of a job, Davis will finish the work anyway. “My motto has always been, if I saw for a man, I can look him in the eye next week.”

As for his plans for the mill, he hopes to bring it back to Wood-Mizer, to put on display if there’s a 25th Anniversary bash. Other than that, he has no real projects for it. “I just plan to build a nice place to keep it.” In the meantime, Davis will keep on custom cutting. But if the work runs out, he has a backup plan. “Wood-Mizer’s a super outfit. If I went job hunting, it’s one of the first places I’d look.”

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