Charles E. Gilb, Southern California's 'Potato King, was 83
Charles E. Gilb, Southern California's 'Potato King, was 83
Charles Edwin Gilb, long known as Southern California's "potato king," died Sunday, May 18, at his home in Arcadia, CA, of malignant melanoma. He was 83.
Mr. Gilb was born Nov. 13, 1924, in Cincinnati, but soon moved with his parents and sister to Twin Falls, ID, where he spent most of his childhood and began his love affair with potatoes.
He began college at the University of Idaho-Moscow, but his education was interrupted by World War II, when he joined the Marine Corps. He did return to the University of Idaho, earned a degree in business and met his future wife of more than 60 years, Ruth Valadon. They soon married and moved to California in 1949.
Mr. Gilb started his produce career as a salesman with the Friedman Bag Co., a Los Angeles firm that sold produce bags to packers and wholesalers. However, a dispute over the size of his paycheck led him to potatoes. He once said of potatoes, "I would sell them from the back of my truck. I worked the Bakersfield deal during the summer and would drive up there from Arcadia three times a week and get back to L.A. about 2 a.m."
A few years later, he joined the sales staff of the George R. Craig Co. located at the Seventh Street Produce Market in Los Angeles. In 1959, he became head of the firm, and in 1964 its name was changed to the Charles E. Gilb Co. Today, the company is a nationwide distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables, specializing in potatoes and onions. A branch operation is located in Bakersfield, in addition to the headquarters just off the Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market. Mr. Gilb remained active in the firm until very recently, coming into the office daily to sell potatoes.
When he started in the wholesale potato business, he said there were 17 potato houses in Los Angeles, each one selling 100-pound bags of potatoes. Mr. Gilb and his stable of companies outlasted them all.
He was an active Los Angeles produce businessman, and was founder or co- founder of numerous firms including Progressive Produce Co. (now Progressive Marketing Co.), Pathfinder Trucking, Blue Pacific Produce, Direct Produce and Liberty Fruit & Produce Co.
He also was active in produce industry associations, having served as chairman and/or a member of the board of directors of the United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association (now the United Fresh Produce Association), the Potato Growers of America, the Associated Produce Dealers & Brokers of Los Angeles, the Fresh Produce & Floral Council and the Canadian Produce Marketing Association.
He was also longtime chairman of the General Dillingham Produce Industry Scholarship Fund, which has given hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years to college students with a produce industry connection.
His involvement extended into civic positions in the Los Angeles area, serving on the Los Angeles Alcoholic Commission and as chairman of the Los Angeles County Fire Commission. He served on the Arcadia City Council for 16 years and held the office of mayor four times during his tenure. He served as chairman of the League of California Cities, Council of Mayors for eight years. He also sat on the boards of the Arcadia Educational Foundation, the Arcadia Historical Commission and served as president of the Arcadia Tournament of Roses Association, which enters a float in the famous Rose Parade every year. Mr. Gilb and his wife Ruth were instrumental in providing inspiration and funding for the Ruth & Charles Gilb Historical Museum of Arcadia.
Mr. Gilb's hard work and commitment to his industry and city did not go unnoticed, and he was the recipient of many local "Man of the Year" or "Citizen of the Year" honors over the years.
He was well known in the produce industry, especially for his love of horseracing, as he was a constant host for many produce groups at the Santa Anita Racetrack, which is in his hometown of Arcadia.
In addition to his wife, Ruth, he is survived by children Denice, Michael and Valerie; two granddaughters, Heather and Amy; and three great- grandchildren, Michael, Rulon and Miranda. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Lou Novak; and many nieces and nephews.
Mr. Gilb was born Nov. 13, 1924, in Cincinnati, but soon moved with his parents and sister to Twin Falls, ID, where he spent most of his childhood and began his love affair with potatoes.
He began college at the University of Idaho-Moscow, but his education was interrupted by World War II, when he joined the Marine Corps. He did return to the University of Idaho, earned a degree in business and met his future wife of more than 60 years, Ruth Valadon. They soon married and moved to California in 1949.
Mr. Gilb started his produce career as a salesman with the Friedman Bag Co., a Los Angeles firm that sold produce bags to packers and wholesalers. However, a dispute over the size of his paycheck led him to potatoes. He once said of potatoes, "I would sell them from the back of my truck. I worked the Bakersfield deal during the summer and would drive up there from Arcadia three times a week and get back to L.A. about 2 a.m."
A few years later, he joined the sales staff of the George R. Craig Co. located at the Seventh Street Produce Market in Los Angeles. In 1959, he became head of the firm, and in 1964 its name was changed to the Charles E. Gilb Co. Today, the company is a nationwide distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables, specializing in potatoes and onions. A branch operation is located in Bakersfield, in addition to the headquarters just off the Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market. Mr. Gilb remained active in the firm until very recently, coming into the office daily to sell potatoes.
When he started in the wholesale potato business, he said there were 17 potato houses in Los Angeles, each one selling 100-pound bags of potatoes. Mr. Gilb and his stable of companies outlasted them all.
He was an active Los Angeles produce businessman, and was founder or co- founder of numerous firms including Progressive Produce Co. (now Progressive Marketing Co.), Pathfinder Trucking, Blue Pacific Produce, Direct Produce and Liberty Fruit & Produce Co.
He also was active in produce industry associations, having served as chairman and/or a member of the board of directors of the United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association (now the United Fresh Produce Association), the Potato Growers of America, the Associated Produce Dealers & Brokers of Los Angeles, the Fresh Produce & Floral Council and the Canadian Produce Marketing Association.
He was also longtime chairman of the General Dillingham Produce Industry Scholarship Fund, which has given hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years to college students with a produce industry connection.
His involvement extended into civic positions in the Los Angeles area, serving on the Los Angeles Alcoholic Commission and as chairman of the Los Angeles County Fire Commission. He served on the Arcadia City Council for 16 years and held the office of mayor four times during his tenure. He served as chairman of the League of California Cities, Council of Mayors for eight years. He also sat on the boards of the Arcadia Educational Foundation, the Arcadia Historical Commission and served as president of the Arcadia Tournament of Roses Association, which enters a float in the famous Rose Parade every year. Mr. Gilb and his wife Ruth were instrumental in providing inspiration and funding for the Ruth & Charles Gilb Historical Museum of Arcadia.
Mr. Gilb's hard work and commitment to his industry and city did not go unnoticed, and he was the recipient of many local "Man of the Year" or "Citizen of the Year" honors over the years.
He was well known in the produce industry, especially for his love of horseracing, as he was a constant host for many produce groups at the Santa Anita Racetrack, which is in his hometown of Arcadia.
In addition to his wife, Ruth, he is survived by children Denice, Michael and Valerie; two granddaughters, Heather and Amy; and three great- grandchildren, Michael, Rulon and Miranda. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Lou Novak; and many nieces and nephews.
