Nov 11, 2004. /Lesprom Network/. Aubra H. Anthony, Jr., President and CEO of Anthony Forest Products Company, has been elected Chairman of the Board for the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), the national trade association of the forest, paper and wood products industry. Anthony takes over at a crucial time for the industry and the Association. Increased competition from abroad and unfair domestic tax policies have been placing great pressure on the industry, but the situation is improving. The Association is coming off a good year with policy victories in many areas, including foreign currency manipulation, leading the charge for the repeal of the Foreign Sales Corporation Tax, enactment of reforestation tax incentives and seeing the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® program make great strides in on-the-ground forest management, and in marketplace acceptance. "I am privileged to serve our vital North American industry," said Anthony. We will aggressively pursue the industry’s strategic priorities. We are going to take a hardline approach to illegal logging around the world, continue our excellent work to level the international playing field and promote fair trade in forest and paper products, and pursue legislation and standards that recognize the superior environmental benefits of building with wood. We will work with the appropriate groups inside and outside the organization to greatly improve the quantity and quality of recovered paper for recycling.” Anthony, an attorney by profession, is no stranger to politics and the workings of Washington, D.C. and as such is seen as an excellent choice for Chairman. He was in private practice with the Washington, D.C. law firm of Melrod, Redman & Gartlan. He later served as counsel and Vice President for Policy and Planning for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In 1998, then Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt recognized Anthony as an Honorary National Park Ranger. Anthony also served as Chairman of the Board of the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council, and is a current Director of the Arkansas Forestry Association. Anthony is quite active in his local community, as well. He currently serves as a Director of Simmons First Bank, the Medical Center of South Arkansas, and the Arkansas Cancer Research Center Foundation. Anthony is an honors graduate of Tulane University and of the University of Virginia Law School and did post-graduate work at George Washington University Law School. He is a member of the bars of Virginia, the District of Columbia and Arkansas and has been admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court.