Viking Lumber buys L.A. Gray Owner says move ‘mutually beneficial’

Viking Lumber Co. of Belfast has completed purchase of Hancock-based building materials company L.A. Gray.

Viking President David Flanagan said Tuesday the agreement was made final last week and that former owner Dudley Gray will continue to serve as manager of the lumberyard and retail outlet.

L.A. Gray has 30 employees, and Flanagan said he foresaw few changes in the business other than the name.

Terms were not disclosed.

Some trucks are being repainted with the Viking logo and L.A. Gray employees will be answering the telephone, “L.A. Gray-Viking” until the transition is complete.

“It really is a mutually beneficial transaction,” Flanagan said Tuesday. “You might say we found each other and we are looking for a seamless transition. I’ve known Dudley for 20 years and we’re both looking forward to working together.”

Flanagan said the two companies would work to expand upon their product lines and customer service.

“We will be sharing information on products and services, and if we can get better products to offer our customers, we will,” Flanagan said. “There are always hiccups and bumps in the road but I think this will be beneficial to both of us.”

With the addition of L.A. Gray, Viking Lumber now has four locations in three counties.

Viking Lumber Co. was founded in Belfast in 1945 by Flanagan’s father, Judson Flanagan, and his uncle Eugene Rich. It remains a family-owned business.

Addition of L.A. Gray in Hancock County raises the number of Viking employees to 127. Besides its original lumberyard and mill in Belfast and another retail yard in Lincolnville, both in Waldo County, Viking operates retail lumberyards in the Knox County towns of Warren and Vinalhaven.