SECOND AMENDMENT AND JOINDER TO RETIREMENT AND CONSULTING AGREEMENT, RELEASE AND WAIVER OF CLAIMS

                                                                            Exhibit 10.23b


                                          SECOND AMENDMENT AND JOINDER TO
                                       RETIREMENT AND CONSULTING AGREEMENT,
                                           RELEASE AND WAIVER OF CLAIMS


         THIS SECOND AMENDMENT is to the Retirement and Consulting Agreement,
Release and Waiver of Claims dated as of October 18, 1998 between X’Xxxxxxxx Industries
Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”) and Xxxxxx X. X’Xxxxxxxx (“Xx. X’Xxxxxxxx”).

                                               W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, Holdings and Xx. X’Xxxxxxxx entered into a Retirement and Consulting
Agreement, Release and Waiver of Claims dated as of October 18, 1998, which agreement was
amended as of May 14, 1999 (as so amended, the “Agreement”); and

         WHEREAS, in addition to his service as President and Chief Executive Officer of
Holdings, Xx. X’Xxxxxxxx worked for X’Xxxxxxxx Industries, Inc. (“Industries”) from 1962 to
2000, rising to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer; and

         WHEREAS, Holdings and Xx. X’Xxxxxxxx agree that it is appropriate for Industries to
become a party to the Agreement in recognition of Xx. X’Xxxxxxxx’x many years of service to
Industries; and

         WHEREAS, Industries is willing to become a party to the Agreement in order to
preserve the benefits to which it will become entitled thereunder; therefore

         In consideration of the foregoing, and for other good and valid consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Industries, Holdings and Xx.
X’Xxxxxxxx hereby agree as follows:

         Section 1.        Joinder to Agreement.  Industries hereby agrees to become a party to the
Agreement and to assume, jointly and severally, all of Holdings’ obligations under the
Agreement, including the obligations to pay money and provide or pay for benefits contained
in the Agreement.  Further, Industries shall be entitled to the benefits of, and shall be entitled
to enforce for its benefit, the obligations of Xx. X’Xxxxxxxx under the Agreement, including
without limitation Section, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23 and 24 of the Agreement.  Holdings and Xx.
X’Xxxxxxxx hereby consent and agree to Industries’ becoming a party to the Agreement,
including the assumption of obligations under, and the entitlement to the benefits of, the
Agreement.



         Section 2.        Confirmation of Agreement.  Except as specifically provided in
Section 1 above, all provisions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment on
the 29th day of July, 2004.

X’XXXXXXXX INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC.



             /s/Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx                                            /s/ Xxxxxx X. X’Xxxxxxxx
By:      ___________________________                                ______________________________
                Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx                                            Xxxxxx X. X’Xxxxxxxx
               President and
           Chief Executive Officer

X’XXXXXXXX INDUSTRIES, INC.


                /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
By:      ______________________________
                Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
               President and
           Chief Executive Officer