Person:Chandler Taylor (2)

About Chandler Taylor

Otha Chandler Taylor was born 24 January 1920 in Colorado, the son of Obed Chandler Taylor (1885-1979) and Maggie Myrtle Porter (1886-1979). As a young adult, "Chandler", as he liked to be called, worked as a meat cutter in a retail meat market as he was listed in the 1940 U.S. Census, when living in North Fossil Creek, Larimer County, Colorado, then living with his parents. Just before World War II, Chandler moved to California to work in an aircraft machine shop, and after the war he returned to work as a meat cutter working for Greater All American Markets, a then 14-store chain located in Orange and Los Angeles Counties, California with headquarters in Downey, California. He moved up through the ranks at Greater All-American Markets, serving as Meat Department Manager in stores located in Newport Beach, Corona Del Mar, Garden Grove and Costa Mesa. In 1960, Chandler was promoted to Meat Supervisor, and later in 1964 was again promoted to Delicatessan Buyer for Albertsons All American Markets where he was responsible for all buying, merchandising, itemization and gross profit in the then fast growing deli department. [Note: Albertsons had acquired All-American Markets in 1964, as its first entry into the Southern California market. Source: Fundinguniverse.com]

During his career, Chandler Taylor became active in a local Southern California food-industry trade association, the Dairy/Deli/Bakery Council (DDBC), an organization that still exists today in 2015. Chandler was introduced to the membership in its Deli News Magazine in a November 1964 article, shown below. During those years, Chandler was living in Tustin, Orange County, California with his wife Evelyn [nee Fleming], whom he had married prior to 1950, and their two daughters, Bettye and Linda.

Within a few years after Albertson's acquired Greater All-American Markets, Chandler Taylor became disillusioned with many of the changes made at his new company, so he went into the restaurant supply business, working for Jojo's and Naugles [which merged with Del Taco in 1988], where he worked for several years. Later after retirement, Chandler and Evelyn Taylor moved to Big Bear Lake, California, a popular retirement community in Southern California, where they lived for over 30 years.

Chandler Taylor passed away on Christmas Eve in 2012 while living in Big Bear Lake, with his wife Evelyn, who left him a touching obituary in the Big Bear Grizzley newspaper on October 16, 2013:

Dear Chandler,

I miss you, we all do.

God and you gave us two beautiful daughters, Bettye and Linda. So many loved you. Paul picked you up when you had fallen several times.

Bettye asked me to go to her and Joe's house for a little while to be away from the stress. God called you to be with Him when we were away.

We had hospice. They were so helpful and kind. Pastor Barry, Linda, nurses and Renae, our wonderful "bath girl," were with you.

Joe and Paul carried you out of our house. I don't like being independent but God and many good friends are helping me. We will see you and Jason and loved ones again.

All my love, Evelyn.

1.   United States. 1940 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T627).

   1940 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   Name: F Chandler Taylor
   Age: 20
   Estimated birth year: abt 1920
   Gender: Male
   Race: White
   Birthplace: Colorado
   Marital Status: Single
   Relation to Head of House: Son (Child)
   Home in 1940: North Fossil Creek, Larimer, Colorado
   Street: East Elizabeth
   House Number: 910
   Inferred Residence in 1935: North Fossil Creek, Larimer, Colorado
   Residence in 1935: Same House
   Sheet Number: 9A
   Occupation: Butcher
   Industry: Retail Meat Market
   Attended School or College: No
   Highest Grade Completed: High School, 4th year
   Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 44
   Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in private work
   Weeks Worked in 1939: 38
   Income: 400
   Income Other Sources: No
   Household Members: Name Age
   Obed C Taylor 55
   Myrtle M Taylor 53
   F Chandler Taylor 20

2.   Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index: Death Master File, database. (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service).

   Name: O Chandler Taylor
   BORN: 24 Jan 1920
   Died: 24 Dec 2012
   State (Year) SSN issued: Colorado (Before 1951)

3.   United States Obituary Collection: [database on-line]. (Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006).

   Name of Deceased: Chandler Taylor
   Obituary Date: 16 Oct 2013
   Newspaper Location: Big Bear Lake, California, USA
   Childrens' Names: Bettye and Linda

4.   Waite, Robert G. In Good Times and Bad People Have to Eat
   pg. 44.

   Steady and sustained growth in sales and revenue meant that the corporation continued to expand, and acquisitions continued to be central to the growth plans of Joe Albertson and his top management. In June 1964, the company announced its intentions to acquire Greater All American Markets, Inc., a supermarket chain based in Downey, California, that operated 14 food markets in Los Angeles and Orange County. According to the announcement, Albertsons would offer "in the range of" one Albertson share for five shares of Greater All-American. The Wall Street Journal reported that Albertson's earned $2,507,686 or $1.46 per share on total sales of $162 million. The figures for Greater All-American showed earnings of $112,025 or 16 cents per share on sales of $27 million. The stock of each company was traded over the counter, with Albertsons going for $20 and Greater All-American listed at $4.75.
   
   Upon the tender offered by Albertson's, the merger was recommended by the boards of Albertson's and Greater All-American. The deal hit a snag when a major shareholder of the smaller firm told the Wall Street Journal that he opposed the merger. John H. Irwin, former executive vice president and major shareholder of Greater All-American, called the terms "inequitable" to shareholders, and stated that "Albertson's shot is at an inflated price while All-American has been depressed" Other shareholders did not listed too closely. At a special meeting, held on July 14, 1964, they voted to merge with the Boise based firm. Irwin's proxy battle had failed.