After war service in the US Army, James Nordahl earned his BS degree in 1949, and went to Coast Manufacturing and Supply Company of Livermore, California, rising to become Vice President. In 1967, he became President of Coast Fuse, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Coast Manufacturing and soon purchased Coast Fuse, remaining a Vice President of the parent company. When Coast Fuse was sold to Apache Powder Company and Coast Manufacturing and Supply was purchased by HEXCEL Corporation, James became Assistant to the President of HEXCEL. Both companies pioneered the manufacturing and sale of fiberglass-reinforced plastics for the aircraft, rocket and missile field, fiberglass boats and fishing rods. He retired in 1969, but in 1975 he became President and CEO of Oliver Tire and Rubber Company. Mr. Nordahl sold the company in 1978 to Standard Products of Cleveland, Ohio, and began his second retirement.
Degrees
- B.S. Industrial Engineering, 1949