San
Joaquin County
Biographies
WALTER R. WOOCK
Gifted with mechanical and inventive
ability of a high order, Walter R. Woock, president of the Superior
Manufacturing Company of Lodi, is one of the youngest executives in the state
of California heading a manufacturing enterprise of the scope of this company. Already having accomplished much, he has a
still more brilliant future before him.
Mr. Woock was born at Los Angeles, January 31, 1892 the eldest son of
Julius and Eliza (Nickel) Woock, both natives of Germany. The father has been a resident of the United
States for thirty-six years, and in 1904 removed with his family to Lodi, where
he purchased an eighty-acre ranch, improved it, adding much to its value, and
later sold it for $65,000. The family
now resides on a ranch one and a half miles east of Lodi, forty-two acres of
which is devoted to Tokay grapes, making a very valuable property. Mr. and Mrs. Julius Woock are the parents of
four children: Walter R., of this sketch;
and Herbert J., Eric M., and Hattie.
Twelve years of age when his parents
took up their residence at Lodi, Walter R. Woock finished his education in the
public schools of Lodi and at Heald’s Business College at Stockton. He also took a correspondence course in
mechanical engineering, supplementing this with much home study along this
line, and has a valuable practical experience in the machinery and engineering
fields. He was with the Monarch Foundry
of Stockton, in the selling and installing departments, and later with the
Marine Iron Works of Stockton, where he was engaged in pump building and
installing. He afterwards became a
part-owner of the latter company, and was identified with the pump department.
In 1914 with his brothers Herbert J.
and Eric M. Woock, Mr. Woock established the Superior Manufacturing Company at
Lodi. A sketch of the company’s
organization and development is given below.
The company was incorporated August 1, 1919. He is the president of the company, Herbert
J. Woock is vice-president, and Eric M. Woock is treasurer. The Superior pumps, manufactured by this
company, represent the inventive genius of the three brothers, who hold patents
on the following types: twin pump, packless pump, shaftless
deep-well pump, and elbow check pump.
They have built up one of the most modern pump manufactories in the
state, and their enterprise would do credit to men much their seniors. The Superior Manufacturing Company is a
member of the Lodi Business Men’s Association, the Manufacturers’ Association
of San Francisco, and the 100 Per Cent Club of San Francisco. Occupying a leading place among the business
men of Lodi, Mr. Woock has already contributed much to its commercial growth
through the establishment of his thriving plant and the genuine interest he
takes in all that adds to the development of the locality.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1340. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County Biographies
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County Genealogy
Databases