Something About My Paternal Grandfather, Del France

The Bendix Mariner (February, 1945)
Del France New Planning Head
Production Head Promoted From Ranks
By N.J. Tonti

From an electrician's helper in a Staunton, Illinois, coal mine at seventeen years of age to manager of Production-Planning at Bendix-Marine nineteen years later -- that is the success story of Delbert France. Del, as he is known to his intimates, received his education in the schools of Staunton, his birth-place, and after two years with things electric at the mine, he travelled to Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he joined Nash Motors as final test-inspector.

His next stop along the route to Bendix was Chicago where he became a member of the Inspection Department of Thorgesen Electric Company. After a few years in the windy city, Del went with Massey-Harris, manufactures of farm implements in Racine, Wisconsin, where he had a berth in the superintendent's office, assisting in the administration of material control but it wasn't long before Del went back to the automobile business, joining the Autocar Company in Philadelphia.

It was while Delbert France was with Autocar Company that he culminated his boyhood romance. He married the former Alexandra Drougge of Kenosha, Wisconsin. They made their home in Philadelphia and in the Quaker City France acquired the bulk of his experience which serves him in good stead in his present position. During his eight year tenure with Autocar, he chased stock, served a clerkship in the engineering department, was supervisor of stores and delved into material control. In January 1941 Delbert joined the Bendix family at Bendix-Philadelphia Division. He got his start in the Scheduling department and had reached a position of prominence in that group when he transferred to Bendix-Marine in November 1943.

When Delbert isn't applying his production "know-how" to the maintenance of production schedules or "shooting troubles" in the office he is whiling away his few leisure hours with his son and two daughters in his Lynbrook, Long Island home. Donald is 11 years old, Gail is 3 1/2 years of age and Susan is 15 months.

Delbert France's recent assignment brings under his control, Material Control, Scheduling, Stores, Dispatch, Co-ordinators and Subcontracting.


Today's Rune: Protection.