Southern Loggin’ Times magazine Managing Editor David Abbott recounts his recent trip to Sparkman, Arkansas to visit Ray White Lumber Company. Ray White Lumber Co. has been around a while. The southern yellow pine board mill started operations in 1945, when Ray White first moved to Sparkman from Pine Bluff. At the time it was called Sparkman Lumber Co., and White was one of the partners and managers involved in it for most of the next 40 years. In 1984, White bought out all of his partners and became sole proprietor of the mill, which he renamed after himself. His son, Don, had worked at the mill since 1960, and remains actively in­volved today. Don took over following Ray’s death in 1997. Even before the family bought the mill outright, its third generation was already on board. Don’s son Donny started working at the mill in 1981.

Featured Story: “Right On Course”

Written By: David Abbott
Company: Ray White Lumber Company
Location: Sparkman, Arkansas
SLT Issue: March 2016

Check out other featured articles in the March 2016 issue of Southern Loggin’ Times magazine.
Southern Loggin’ Times magazine’s March 2016 issue features Jonesboro, Louisiana’s DG&E Logging, Inc., Richton, Mississippi’s Burnie Dykes Logging Company, Inc., New Bern, North Carolina’s Gladson Logging, and Sparkman, Arkansas’ Ray White Lumber Company. Special articles highlight Union Grove, North Carolina’s CTR Manufacturing Co. and their sister company Cutting Systems, Inc. (CSI), Caterpillar’s recent tests with remote controlled forestry machines, and the recent South Carolina Timber Producers Association annual meeting and their focus on trucking. Other articles cover the latest industry news, new products, and logging business tips.