Los Angeles
County
Biographies
FREDERICK C. SODERBERG
One
of the outstanding modern-day success stories of Alhambra began 27 years ago,
when Mr. Frederick C. Soderberg moved from Illinois to California in 1934 and
took a job as diemaker for Lights, Inc. He was soon promoted to production manager
and finally advanced to plant manager.
In 1946 he bought the corporation.
The business has grown, and many changes have taken place due to
scientific progress and technology. The
firm now called Soderberg Manufacturing Co., Inc., is located at 628 South Palm
Avenue in Alhambra. They are
manufacturers of aircraft lights and electric components, airport lighting
equipment, Navy “waterborne” equipment, distress markers, channel marks and
buoys. During World War II, Mr.
Soderberg received the “E” award; an industrial award given for excellence in
war production.
Mr.
Frederick C. Soderberg was born January 30, 1908, in Henry County, Illinois. His father, John Soderberg, was a farmer who
came to the United States from Sweden in the 1880s. He bred Clydesdale horses, heavy draft
horses, and with Uncle Andrew imported the first stud horse for breeding
purposes to the United States. Young
Frederick helped his father with breeding, raising and working with full
blooded horses. The maiden name of
Frederick C. Soderberg’s mother was Anna
Frederickson. She was born in Illinois
of Swedish parents. Frederick C.
Soderberg received his fundamental education at Osco Elementary School, and
graduated from Chester High School in Chester, Iowa, in 1925. He took one year of business training at
Brown’s Business College in Moline, Illinois.
He
married Miss Shirley Luzelle Schempp
in Riceville, Iowa, on June 17, 1928.
They have a daughter, Mrs. Donald (Roberta Lee) Snow, and a son, Bruce
William Soderberg, 20 years old, who holds a degree in Physics from Occidental
College and is Vice-President and Chief Engineer in his father’s firm,
Soderberg Manufacturing co., Inc. Mrs.
Soderberg is a member of the Noblettes and was a member of Alhambra Parent-Teachers
Association. The Soderberg’s
are active members of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Alhambra.
Mr.
Soderberg was chairman of the industrial committee of Alhambra Chamber of
Commerce, is a member of the California State Chamber of Commerce and the
United States Chamber of Commerce. For
more than ten years he has been a member of the National Association of
Manufacturers. He is also a member of
the Los Angeles Athletic Club, and a charter member of the Business Men’s Club
of the Alhambra Y. M. C. A. Fraternally
he is a Mason, belongs to Al Malaikah Temple in Los Angeles, and is a charter
member of the San Gabriel Shrine Club.
Two
of Mr. Soderberg’s favorite pastimes, when business
pressure permits, are hunting and fishing.
He goes big game hunting in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, antelope hunting in
Green River, Wyoming. Indian Chief
Johnny of the Shoshone Tribe taught him elk hunting. He catches sweet water fish in local streams
and lakes, but for the big ones he goes deep sea fishing to Mexico. He catches Marlin from Guayas to Mazatlan all
the way down to Acapulco.
He
takes pride in his collection of antique guns, and is skillful in doing his own
repairs. One of his conversation pieces
is a Kentucky rifle, built by Mr. Shob at the end of
the Revolutionary War, and still in shooting condition. Only five guns of this famous gunsmith are
known to exist. Of course, Mr. Soderberg
belongs to the National Rifle Association.
He
is sponsor and life member of Ducks Unlimited, Inc., an organization for
worldwide conservation of migratory waterfowl.
He belongs to Ritter Park, a 12,000 acre sportsman’s paradise in the Leonis Valley near Palmdale. This is a private sportsman’s club in which
he is an active member.
In
the fall of last year Mr. and Mrs. Soderberg planned a trip, which took them
farther than any hunting or fishing expedition ever did on their previous
travels. They started their well planned
trip to the Orient on September 17, 1960, and for more than six exciting weeks
they visited Honolulu, Hawaii; Tokyo, Japan; Hong Kong, China; Bangkok,
Thailand; Cambodia; Macao, Portugal; and returned via Taipei, Formosa. They saw many more interesting places, and
landed again on October 21, 1960, at the Los Angeles Airport in the good old
United States. Mr. Soderberg held many
of his impressions on colored 16mm slides, which will long be reminders of this
memorable trip.
But
he won’t take credit for his success in life and in business. “And all this, says Mr. Soderberg, “was only
possible with the help of my family, conservative habits, and through the
loyalty of my employees.”
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Pages 498-500, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
GOLDEN
NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPHIES