Los Angeles
County
Biographies
POWERS
BROTHERS
Richard
E. and Merel E
Organized
in 1945 by two brothers, Richard E. and Merel E. Powers, the Powers Wire
Products Company, Inc., was incorporated in 1946. The firm is located at 540 Monterey Pass Road
in Monterey Park, California, and has over two hundred employees, a fantastic
growth over the past sixteen years.
The
scope of this successful firm, who are manufacturers of wire staples and
stapling machines, is not only nationwide, but has branched out into
international trade.
Powers
Wire Products Company, Inc., has branch factories
located in many parts of the country.
Powers Wire Staple Company in High Point, North
Carolina and Powers Fastener Company, Ltd., is located
in Toronto, Canada. The Monterey Park
firm also maintains separate sales offices under the name of Power-Line Sales,
Inc., in Detroit, Michigan; New York City; and in Montreal and Vancouver,
Canada.
Mr.
Richard E. Powers, president of the firm, was born in
Baltimore, Maryland, on November 11, 1910, the son of Thomas R. and Mary (Hahn)
Powers. Following his graduation from
University High School in Eugene, Oregon, he attended the University of Oregon
prior to coming to California in 1932.
He was employed as a salesman for Boething
& Dunlap Automotive Trimming Supply Company from 1932 to 1943, and as sales
representative for Western Wire Products Company from 1943 to 1945. In 1945 Richard E. Powers and his brother,
Merel E. Powers, became partners in the Powers Manufacturing Company, which
after incorporation in 1946 became known as Powers Wire Products, Incorporated.
The
marriage of Richard E. Powers and the former Miss Mary Louise Noe took place at
the bride’s home in Los Angeles, California, on November 17, 1934. They have three children: Richard E., Jr., born on May 7, 1941; Joan
Lee, born on February 4, 1943; and Mary Lyn, who was born on October 17,
1945. Mrs. Powers is
an active member of the Alhambra Community Hospital Women’s Auxiliary. Mr. Powers’ hobbies include fishing and golf.
Merel
E. Powers, Secretary-Treasurer of Powers Wire Products Incorporated, was born
in Portland, Maine, on August 29, 1917.
He moved to California with his parents in 1928. Following his graduation from Long Beach Poly
High School, he attended the University of California at Los Angeles from 1936
to 1940, majoring in business administration.
During
World War II, Merel Powers served as a Navy Aviation Cadet in 1940 and
1941. After his discharge from military
service, he was employed by California Shipbuilding until joining his brother
in business in 1945.
The
former Miss Gloria Koury became Mrs. Merel E. Powers
on December 11, 1948, in a ceremony performed in Las Vegas, Nevada. They are the parents of two sons, Michael E.,
born on July 4, 1956, and Charles R., who was born on January 1, 1961.
A
member of the Monterey Park Chamber of Commerce, Merel Powers is also a member
of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity Alumni of the University of Southern California
at Los Angeles.
In
addition to fishing, preferably deep sea fishing, Merel Power’s favorite sport
is golf. He proudly boasts of a hole in
one on the Almansor Golf Course in Alhambra.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Pages 700-701, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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