On October 11, 2008, Bruce Yelland, a long time member of the pallet industry passed away at his home in Hanover, Penn. As president of the J.F. Rohrbaugh Co. and president of Tradition House, Inc. Bruce lived a productive 77 years.

            I used the word legacy to describe Bruce because it applies here about as well as it would to anybody in our industry. J.F. Rohrbaugh Co. was founded in 1880 by Bruce’s wife Sally’s family as a wood manufacturing business that produced mantles, fireplaces, and moldings, and later transitioned to dimension lumber. Bruce and Sally took over the business in 1962 and added pallets to the product line. He joined the NWPCA in 1963 and went on to serve on its board of directors. In 1964 a fire caused the family to choose the company’s future direction. Rohrbaugh established itself as one of Pennsylvania’s leading pallet manufacturers.

            Before entering the pallet industry, Bruce graduated from Drexel University in Philadelphia and served in the Counter Intelligence Corps of the Army, stationed in  Berlin.

            Active in his community, Bruce was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Hanover, was a member and past president of the Hanover Rotary Club, member and past president of the Hanover Arcadian  Club, and member of the Hanover Country Club board of directors. Bruce enjoyed playing golf and was an avid bridge player.

            Bruce is survived by his wife Sally (Warehime) Yelland, son Steve Yelland and his wife Amy, daughter Ann Yelland and her husband Michael Adometto, five grandchildren, his sister Janie Doan, and a cousin Bileen Hilly.

            Bruce’s son Steve now runs the business. As the fifth generation of his family to lead the company, Steve continues his heritage by being active in the NWPCA and serves the Mid-Atlantic area with wooden pallets. I have every reason to believe that Steve will continue the Yelland legacy through his own children as J.F. Rohrbaugh continues to serve our industry.