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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]
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