About Eugene Walsh

Early Life

Eugene 'Gene' Walsh was born in Denver, Colorado on December 26, 1915, the son of Michael Walsh [b. abt. 1870] and his wife Bertha Augusta Eckstein [1881-1952]. His family moved to Los Angeles, California in 1916. He graduated from Washington High School in 1933. Eugene attended the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) until 1936, when he left college to support his parents during the Depression. He met his beloved wife, Bessie Hearne Walsh in 1935, and they married in 1941, forming a loving partnership that lasted more than 70 years.

Military Career

Gene enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942, was accepted into Infantry Officer Candidate School, and served in the European Theater with the 94th Infantry Division during World War II, where he earned the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. He left the service in 1946 with the rank of major.

Food Industry Career

In 1951, Gene joined Ralphs Grocery Company as office manager and controller, eventually rising to become Chairman and CEO. During his career at Ralphs, he founded the Ralphs Credit Union and initiated a pension plan for non-union employees.

He also served as Vice President, Assistant to the Chairman, and member of the Board of Directors of Federated Department Stores, which purchased Ralphs in 1967. Walsh guided Ralphs during a time of explosive growth, which by the 1950's had over 100 locations throughout Southern California. Upon his retirement in 1977, he was named a director emeritus of Federated. From 1978 to 1986, he was a member of the board of McKesson Inc.

Gene Walsh retired in 1977 as President and CEO of Ralphs Grocery Company and vice president and assistant to the chairman of Ralphs' parent company, Federated Department Stores. He was succeeded as CEO of Ralphs by Byron Allumbaugh, a 19-year veteran of the company.

Philantropic Endeavors

Eugene Walsh, along with his wife Bessie, were very active in helping to found the Food Industry Circle of the City of Hope charity in Los Angeles, which has raised more than $100 million for cancer research. Gene enlisted several members of the grocery industry in an on-going fund-raising effort for the City of Hope National Medical Center, which is recognized as one of the world's leading cancer research and treatment hospitals. Gene was also a key Food Industry supporter of the University of Southern California's Food Industry Management Program, helping to raise funding to support scholarships for the further education for many of the up-and-coming executives in the Food Industry.

Family

Gene Walsh was survived by his wife Bessie Walsh, his sons Carl Walsh and Glenn Walsh, daughter-in-law Judy Walsh, and step-grandchildren Deborah Newman and Michelle Newman.

Awards/Honors

Among the many awards that Gene Walsh received during his lifetime included: the Humanitarian Award of the National Council of Christians and Jews (1975), Man of the Year Award from the UCLA Executive Program (1976), and a Los Angeles City Board of Education Award for the YOU Program (1977). He also was honored with the City of Hope’s Spirit of Life Award in 1977 and 2001. In 1977, he was the first recipient of the Southern California Food Grocers Association’s Hall of Fame Award. In 2003, The Eugene and Bessie Walsh Conference Room at the University of California, Santa Cruz was named in honor of Gene and Bessie.

Sources

http://www.fullertonobserver.com/artman/uploads/fomidnov.pdf

http://business.highbeam.com/4122/article-1G1-9229818/charity-all-new-york-california-supermarket-operators

"Coupons are helping Hope Medical Center", by Martin Sloane,The Evening Independent, August 20, 1980.

"With charity from all: from New York to California, supermarket operators are uniting to support charities and community events", Progressive Grocer Magazine, December 1, 1990.

"USC Industry Training Program Celebrates 50 Years", by Elliott Zwiebach, Progressive Grocer Magazine, April 21, 2008 [1].

1.   United States. 1920 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T625).

   1920 United States Federal Census
   Name: Eugene Walsh
   Age: 4 [4 1/12]
   Birth Year: abt 1916
   Birthplace: Colorado
   Home in 1920: Los Angeles Assembly District 72, Los Angeles, California
   Street: W 56 St
   Race: White
   Gender: Male
   Relation to Head of House: Son
   Marital Status: Single
   Father's Name: Michell Walsh
   Father's Birthplace: Missouri
   Mother's name: Bertha Walsh
   Mother's Birthplace: Colorado
   Household Members: Name Age
   Michell Walsh 47
   Bertha Walsh 37
   Clarence Walsh 19
   Theodore Walsh 14
   Edna Walsh 11
   Eugene Walsh 4 [4 1/12]

2.   United States. 1930 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T626).

   1930 United States Federal Census
   Name: Eugene B Walsh
   Gender: Male
   Birth Year: abt 1916
   Birthplace: Colorado
   Race: White
   Home in 1930: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
   Marital Status: Single
   Relation to Head of House: Son
   Father's Name: Mika Walsh
   Father's Birthpace: Missouri
   Mother's name: Bertha A Walsh
   Mother's Birthplace: Colorado
   Household Members: Name Age
   Mika Walsh 60
   Bertha A Walsh 48
   Edna A Walsh 20
   Eugene B Walsh 14

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

   1940 United States Federal Census
   Name: Eugene Walsh
   Age: 24
   Estimated Birth Year: abt 1916
   Gender: Male
   Race: White
   Birthplace: Colorado
   Marital Status: Single
   Relation to Head of House: Son
   Home in 1940: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
   Street: S Dalton Avenue
   House Number: 5027
   Inferred Residence in 1935: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
   Residence in 1935: Same Place
   Resident on farm in 1935: No
   Sheet Number: 6A
   Occupation: Jr Clerk
   Attended School or College: No
   Highest Grade Completed: College, 2nd year
   Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 42
   Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in private work
   Weeks Worked in 1939: 52
   Income: 1440
   Income Other Sources: No
   Household Members: Name Age
   Michael Walsh 70
   Bertha Walsh 58
   Edna Walsh 29
   Eugene Walsh 24