DEWAYNE'S CORNER - OLDEST YARD IN STEPHENS COUNTY

Did you know the oldest continuous running in the same location, a lumberyard in Stephens County, is here in Marlow. Just past BancFirst on Main Street is where the WM Cameron Lumberyard was started in March, 1983.

The earliest I personally remember is when it was National Building Center (NBC) in the 1960s. The office was located where the large storage shed is now. Soon the purchase of the farm implement company on the corner of Main and First Street and a new hardware showroom and office was moved there.

David Heien, my father-in-law came, to Marlow from Snyder, OK, in 1956 and was hired as an Assistant Manager with WM Cameron in Marlow. In 1958, David was promoted to manager. David started his lumber career with WM Cameron in Snyder back in August, 1951. Betty Heien join him and the firm in 1966.

He saw many different owners before he became associated with J. D. Scott.

J. D. and David formed a partnership and bought the yard which by now was NBC in 1979. It changed names again to Scott Lumber Company. J. D. was ready to retire in 1981, and David approached me at Martin's Grocery and asked if I thought he should buy 51% of the yard from J.D. I said why not as he had always shown a profit for all the other owners. David had one other question, would I join him and Betty and form a corporation. July 1982 the name was changed once more to Marlow Lumber Company, Inc. with David Heien as President of the corporation and General Manager, Dewayne Boyles, Vice President, and Betty Heien as secretary/treasurer.

During the change I worked two jobs, at the grocery store and early mornings at the lumberyard learning from J. D., the books. I moved to my position a few years later after we paid down our note. I became office manager and bookkeeper. Did payroll and ordered hardware. Betty handled paint department and David oversaw all and ordered lumber.

We sponsored a Chamber Break, in October 1993, celebrating 100 years. I left in 1999 to invest in my company, Mr. Lucky's Bolts and Nuts (now retired).

With David's retirement in 2014, the Marlow Lumber Company, Inc. continues with his daughter, Barbara Johnson, taking the reins as owner/manager. I love my Marlow roots, A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE--- MARLOW, U.S.A.