OBITUARY: Howard Langdon
Jason Sandefur
Howard S. Langdon, founder of the Fastron Company and the first president of the Chicago Bolt, Nut & Screw Association in 1946, died January 14, 2006, at the age of 91.
Ly Nathan, Al Granat, Manny Slutzky and Langdon started what is now the Mid-West Fastener Association in order to buy basic supplies such as cartons.
Langdon told FIN in 1996 that “the industry was a colony then and nobody trusted each other. I had to put up the first check and then the others followed.” The informal early meetings revolved around discussions of issues facing their businesses and usually ended in a game of cards.
Langdon recalled he was chosen as the first president because as a “jobber” he was in a neutral position.
Langdon started Langdon Industry Supply Co. in 1942 in Chicago. In 1960 Langdon moved the company to Franklin Park, IL, changed its name to Fastron Company and began manufacturing fasteners. He never retired and the company remains in the family.
Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Mary Langdon; daughter Marsha Baade; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be sent to Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe, IL, 60022 or The Salvation Army, 5040 N. Pulaski Rd., Chicago, IL 60630-2788. Messages to the family may be sent c/o Fastron, 11800 Franklin Ave., Franklin Park, IL 60131. E-mail: sales@Fastron.com \ �2006 FastenerNews.com
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