Jack William Dameron

Jack William Dameron Jan. 18, 1917- Aug. 2, 2008 Jack was born in Pueblo, CO to Joseph S. Dameron and Mary Irene Swartz Dameron. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1941, but received a military discharge that same year. In November 1941 he moved to Vernon, CA to work f or Mir-O-Col Alloy Company and became a general manager for the duration of World War II. Every time Jack went to visit his parents in Colorado, there seemed to be a lovely neighbor girl spending a lot of time with his parents. After a couple years, in 1943, he decided to buy a $28 ring and ask Dorothy Lee Meeks to marry him in Colorado and return with him to California. She and his parents were delighted their "plan" was successful. Jack and Dorothy were true partners for sixty years until Dorothy's deat h on March 4, 2003. On February 5, 1946 Jack established Dameron Metal Sales in Huntington Park, CA and moved the company to its current location in Compton, CA in 1948. He incorporated into Dameron Alloy Foundries in 1958, building the company with a $2000 original investment into a worldwide manufacturing company with factories in Compton, CA, Louisville, KY, Mexicali, Mexico, and a joint venture in Shenyang, China. In 1965, Jack invented the HR family of alloys, which are used in the production of gla ss bottles. This alloy became the standard for glass manufacturing around the world. In 1967, he established the Investment Casting Process into the company. This was the catalyst that allowed the company to expand rapidly and become a leader in the world for this technology. Dameron Alloy Foundries products reach into every corner of the world in industries from aircraft, oil fields, pumps, valves, glass bottles, and many other area where metal castings are required. Jack Dameron was an innovater who adap ted to changing times. He purchased the first company computer in 1974, far ahead of his time for similar sized companies followed by the first PC in 1984. In addition to his business acumen, Jack was a community volunteer and philanthropist. He served as Chairman of the Selective Service during the Vietnam War. He found the Dameron Family Foundation to help fund charities in Long Beach. He was proud of his 70 year membership in the Elks Club and was a supporter and/or board member of the following organiza tions: Long Beach Memorial Medical Center Foundation; Long Beach Memorial Medical Center Board of Trustees; Boy Scouts of America, Council President; Boys and Girls Clubs of Long Beach; Long Beach City College Foundation; American Foundry Society; and Virginia Country Club. Jack is survived by his adult children, Linda Dameron, John (Doreen) Dameron, Darlene (Gary Taylor) Dameron and Mark (Jennifer) Dameron; and grandchildren, Meghan Martinez, Christina Dameron, Lauren Dameron, Samuel Martinez, Jessica Mar tinez, John Dameron, Jr., and Jaidyn Alexis Dameron. Funeral services are scheduled for Thursday, August 7, 2008 at 11 am at California Heights Methodist Church, corner of Orange and Bixby. Graveside ceremony at Forest Lawn Long Beach, San Antonio and Cherry Aves. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts to either, Long Beach Memorial Medical Center Foundation, 2801 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach CA 90801 OR Dameron Family Foundation, c/o Dameron Alloy Foundries, PO Box 8000, Compton CA 90224