Delivering "Goods from the Woods" Since 1955
A 4th Generation Lumber FamilyWe are an independent, privately owned, wholesale distribution company who has been in business since 1955. Our main location in Roswell, NM spans 18+ acres and includes nearly 64,000 sq. ft. of covered storage and a railroad spur. Our nearly 4-acre reload facility in Lubbock, TX, is serviced by both the Union Pacific (UP) and BNSF railroads, offering dual rail access and includes 6,250 sq. ft. of covered storage.
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Dodson Wholesale Lumber History
The Early Years
Expanding Into New Mexico
Challenges And Transition
Growth And Family Continuity
Strategic Partnerships
Dodson Wholesale Lumber traces its roots back to 1936 when J.A. Dodson of Lane, Oklahoma, took over a sawmill as payment for a bad debt from his grocery store. After running the mill for three years, J.A. passed it on to his 21-year-old son, R.J. Together with his wife Dorothy, R.J. managed the sawmill through the war years, producing lumber for government contracts. Concerned about the dwindling timber supply in Oklahoma, R.J. was drawn to the abundant forests of New Mexico, which he discovered while hunting with his cousin Frank Smith in Alamogordo. In 1948, R.J. partnered with Frank to open Alamo Lumber and Supply, a retail lumber yard in Alamogordo, New Mexico.
As Alamogordo grew rapidly due to the establishment of Holloman Air Force Base, R.J. saw an opportunity to expand. In 1950, he relocated his sawmill from Oklahoma to Ruidoso, NM, to supply lumber for his growing retail business and to sell timbers to the oilfield market. The entire sawmill was transported on the back of a Chevrolet single-axle truck, along with several employees and their families. R.J. partnered with his uncle, Gene Dodson, to manage the mill, which became a major industry in Ruidoso, employing 80 people. The mill operated continuously from 1951 to 1955, providing lumber for projects across Texas, Oklahoma, and locally, including the Ruidoso Downs Race Track.
In 1955, tragedy struck when Gene Dodson passed away suddenly, prompting R.J. to sell both the sawmill and retail yards. Seeking a slower pace, R.J. moved his family to Roswell in 1956 and founded a small wholesale lumber company. Leveraging the connections he had built during his years in manufacturing, R.J. began supplying lumber to retail yards in New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma. This move marked the beginning of Dodson Lumber’s transition into a wholesale distributor, setting the stage for future growth.
The 1970s and 1980s were a period of significant growth for Dodson Lumber. R.J.’s oldest son, Bob, joined the business in 1971 after graduating from Oklahoma State University, followed by his brother James in 1979. During this time, the company moved to its current location and expanded its facilities, adding new products like redwood, cedar, and hardwoods. After R.J.’s passing in 1990, Bob became the sole owner of the business. The company continued to evolve, launching its first website in 1999 and welcoming Bob’s son, Mark, into the family business in 2001.
In the early 2000s, Dodson Wholesale Lumber formed a strategic partnership with Roseburg and TrimJoist. Bob’s son, Steve, joined in 2007, and the company soon became an early SaaS adopter of Epicor’s BisTrack ERP and their Warehouse Management System (WMS).
Through decades of challenges, including recessions and fierce competition, Dodson Wholesale Lumber has remained a strong and prosperous business. The company’s success is rooted in its quality suppliers, loyal customers, dedicated employees, and the strong relationships formed over more than 50 years in the industry.