By LINDA ULRICH
Lincoln Journal Star

When the Homebuilders Association of Lincoln began in the early 1950s, the Petersons and other builders built an early model ranch, called a "trade secrets" home, in conjunction with the National Association of Homebuilders. That home was a predecessor of the Parade of Homes.

Both Peterson and Strauss cut costs through innovative construction concepts. The Petersons, for example, used two sides of drywall with spacers for the electrical to divide bedrooms. They bought materials in mass and knew exactly how many 2-by-4s, pieces of drywall or even nails they would need to build a particular home.