|
Albert E. 'Al' Wollman, Deli Wholesale Executive
Facts and Events
About Al Wollman
Albert E. "Al" Wollman was born 11 December 1894, the son of Harris Wollman (b. abt. 1870) and his wife Bessie (b. abt. 1871), both Russian immigrants who came to America in 1891 [Source: 1920 U.S. Census].
Al's background included a degree in animal husbandry from Rutgers College in New Jersey, and as a young man worked on a farm for several years to gain first-hand experience about the subjects he was studying in school. His early experience in the food industry, after moving with his family to Los Angeles in 1909 from the east coast, included working in his father's grocery store in Santa Monica, California. In 1917, during World War I, Al enlisted into the United States Army as a private first class, was promoted to second lieutenant and saw active duty in France at the end of the war, where he helped arrange the transport of troops back to America.
Al Wollman's food industry career began when he went into business with his father-in-law's sausage business as a salesman. In 1936, he went to work for John Chudacoff as a salesman and continued with that company, which became International Provision Company. In 1943, with World War II going full blast, he found cheese near impossible to get, so he opened his own cheese importing and distribution company which he named Associated Cheese Distributing Co. At that time, Associated dealt exclusively in butter and cheese, but over time, became one of the largest deli wholesaling companies in Southern California.
Later, a new company called Dairy Fresh seriously challenged Associated's supremacy in deli wholesaling, and a battle ensued for several years with Al Wollman and Associated on one side and the Rabinoffs and Morrie Rosenfeld of Dairy Fresh on the other. In 1961, Associated Cheese Distributing merged with Dairy Fresh Products, now known as DPI Specialty Foods, which became one of the largest specialty food distributors in the food industry. Dairy Fresh continued to grow with Al's assitance and would distribute its manufacturer's products to many of the nation's leading supermarkets and specialty food retailers.
While at Dairy Fresh, Al was very active in the Dairy/Deli/Bakery Council of Southern California (DDBC), or "Deli Council", a local food-industry trade association, was elected to its Board of Directors and served on many key Deli Council committees for several years. While a member, Al was also awarded the Deli Council's "Big Cheese" Award in September 1965, and served on the Board of Directors as the Deli Council's Treasurer for many of its formative years. To many in the industry, Al became known as the "grand old man" of the deli business as he was clearly one of the early major contributors to the tremendous growth that the industry enjoyed in its early years.
Al Wollman passed away on 6 September 1976 in Los Angeles County, California. His contributions to the food industry were many and he has been remembered fondly by his friends and co-workers that he associated with.
Image Gallery
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 California. Department of Public Health. Bureau of Vital Statistics. Death Index, 1940-1997.
California, Death Index, 1940-1997 Name: Albert Wollman Social Security #: 562124111 Gender: Male Birth Date: 11 Dec 1894 Birth Place: New York Death Date: 2 Sep 1976 Death Place: Los Angeles
- United States. Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. (Washington, D.C.: National Archives Microfilm Publication M1509, 1987-1988).
U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 Name: Albert Wollman County: Los Angeles State: California Birthplace: New York,United States of America Birth Date: 11 Dec 1894 Race: Caucasian (White) Draft Board: 3
- Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index: Death Master File, database. (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service).
U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 Name: Albert Wollman SSN: 562-12-4111 Last Residence: 90049 Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA BORN: 11 Dec 1894 Died: Sep 1976 State (Year) SSN issued: California (Before 1951)
- United States. 1920 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T625).
1920 United States Federal Census Name: Albert E Wollman Age: 25 Birth Year: abt 1895 Birthplace: New York Home in 1920: Santa Monica, Los Angeles, California Race: White Gender: Male Relation to Head of House: Son Marital Status: Single Father's Name: Harris Wollman Father's Birthplace: Russia Mother's name: Bessie Wollman Mother's Birthplace: Russia Able to Read: Yes Able to Write: Yes Household Members: Name Age Harris Wollman 50 Bessie Wollman 49 Albert E Wollman 25 Samuel Wollman 19
- United States. 1930 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T626).
1930 United States Federal Census Name: Albert E Wollman [Albert E Wallman] Gender: Male Birth Year: abt 1895 Birthplace: New York Race: White Home in 1930: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California Marital Status: Married Relation to Head of House: Head Spouse's Name: Marian Wollman Father's Birthplace: Russia Mother's Birthplace: Russia Occupation: President, Wholesale Food Education: No Military service: Yes, World War Rent/home value: $13,000 Age at first marriage: 26 Parents' birthplace: Father: Russia, Mother: Russia Household Members: Name Age Albert E Wollman 35 Marian Wollman 29 Joyce Wollman 6 Marjorie A Wollman 1[1 6/12] Fannie Livingston 50 [Mother-in-Law] Sonia Livingston 20 [Sister-in-Law] Alice M Ellis 52 [Servant]
- United States. 1940 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T627).
1940 United States Federal Census Name: Albert Woolman Age: 43 Estimated birth year: abt 1897 Gender: Male Race: White Birthplace: New York Marital Status: Married Relation to Head of House: Head Home in 1940: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California Street: South Ogden Drive House Number: 939 Farm: No Inferred Residence in 1935: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California Residence in 1935: Same House Sheet Number: 16A Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 389 Occupation: Manager House Owned or Rented: Owned Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 8000 Attended School or College: No Highest Grade Completed: High School, 2nd year Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 44 Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in private work Weeks Worked in 1939: 52 Income: 4000 Income Other Sources: No Household Members: Name Age Albert Woolman 43 Marvin Woolman 39 Joyes Woolman 16 Marjorie Woolman 11 Hilda F Limeston 60 [Mother-in-Law]
|
|