Los Angeles County
Biographies
RALPH LeROY NAFZIGER
Ralph LeRoy Nafziger, president of Interstate Bakeries Corporation, was born in Kansas City, Missouri, November 17, 1886; son of Edward and Johanna (Forster) Nafziger. Student at Rensselear Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, 1903-06.
Mr. Nafziger founded the Nafziger Baking Company in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1910, in St. Louis in 1917, in Sedalia, Missouri, in 1918, in Burlington, Iowa, in 1919, in Springfield, Missouri, in 1919, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, in 1919, in Decatur, Illinois, in 1919, in Wichita Falls, in 1920, and was president of these companies until 1925 when combined with Purity Bakeries Corporation. He was vice president and general sales and advertising manager of Purity Bakeries Corporation 1925 to 1927; president of Schulze Baking Company, Kansas City, Missouri (plants in nine cities in the Middle West) since 1927; president of Winkleman Baking company, Memphis, Tennessee, 1923-25, of Sheidley Realty Company, 1928-35, of Balfour Realty Company, 1929-36; president of R. L. Nafziger Investment since 1929, and of Interstate Bakeries Corporation since 1930; chairman of the Board of Western Bakeries Corporation Ltd., Los Angeles, since 1930; director of Weber Baking Company, Cramer Baking Company, Suydam Baking Company, Four-S Baking Company, Log Cabin Bread Company, Dolly Madison Cake Corporation and Kilpatrick Baking Company; president of O’Rourke Baking company, Buffalo, New York, and Mrs. Karl’s Baking Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Mr. Nafziger is a pioneer in private aviation for business and pleasure, buying his first plane in 1919. He is holder of several patents on automobile accessories. Member of American Remount Association, Master of Fox Hounds of America, American Charos Assciation, International Brotherhood of Magicians. Winner of Steeplechase in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1930, ‘31, ‘34; in St. Louis in 1930; and in Ft. Leavenworth in 1931. Was one of the first members of the Aviation Country Club, Long Island, in 1929.
He is a Mason (32d Shriner); member of Kansas City Chamber of Commerce; American Bakers Association (member of Board of Governors, 1915-18; treasurer 1918-19); National Association of Manufacturers; and member of the following clubs: Kansas City, Mission Valley Hut (Master of Fox Hounds, 1927-32; steeplechase rider 1929-34) (Kansas City, Missouri); Oakwood Polo, Press, University, Chicago Yacht (Chicago, Illinois); Los Rancheros Vistadores (Santa Barbara), California; Mounted Sheriff’s Posse (Los Angeles); Shadow Mountain (Palm Desert); Racquet, Thunderbird Ranch and Country Club (Palm Springs).
Mr. Nafziger has two children, Nathalie Madeline and Ralph LeRoy, Jr.
Homes: 1640 East 50th Street, Chicago, Illinois; 7444 Woodrow Wilson Drive, Los Angeles, California; 1001 Avenida de los Palos Verdes, Palm Springs, California.
Offices: 34th Street and Broadway, Kansas City, Missouri; 40 East Garfield Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois; 5225 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California.
Transcribed 10-22-13
Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Eminent
Californians 1953, by Lee E. Johnson & C. W. Taylor. Pages 129-130, C. W. Taylor
Publ., Palo Alto, California, 1953.
© 2013 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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