The Early Years Adapted from an interview by Richard
Don was born in Long Beach, California, at the midwife's home, on Nov. 9, 1928. His family lived in El Monte on Ximino St. Don’s family also lived at Columbia Courts on Lexington St. where the houses were in a “U” shape with a courtyard in the center. When he was 5 or 6 years old his parents had a house built on Grenada St. in El Monte.
His father, Louis Maurice Baudrand was born in San Diego in 1900 at the house on 8th Street. His mother, Mary Elizabeth Littlefield Baudrand was born in Rio, Illinois in 1904. Her family came by train to California when she was 8. They had a small market and then moved to Koffman Street.
Louis started work for Dupont when he was 19 years old, and retired when he was 65. He was a technical service represtative. He sold hydrogen cyanide gas to fumigate citrus groves and supervised the process. They’d go out at night and tent the trees, and pump gas in. They had to do it at night because of the cooler temperature was important to the process. Mary was a secretary at Dupont and that is where they met. They were married in 1926.
Don had two sisters, Lois and LouAnn. Lois died at 15 months of a heart defect – an enlarged heart. LouAnn was born 6 years after Don. Mary had seven siblings, and they all had lots of kids. Don had many cousins. Aunt Blanche and Uncle Bill were special people to him. LouAnn and he would spend two weeks with them every summer.
Don rebelled against violin lessons. His folks said he could quit violin lessons if he took piano lessons. He started at age seven. His second teacher would slap his hands with a ruler if he made a mistake. Don’s parents encouraged him to keep playing. My third teacher was great. She taught him theory and composition, and let him play the pieces he liked, if he also played the songs she chose.
Don had tuberculosis when he was in 6th grade. His home teacher was Mrs. Halsopple. He spent a whole year in bed.
Don’s first job was in middle school. He worked two summers in a pottery plant in El Monte. He mowed lawns for the owner, and he liked Don’s work. Don was hired at the plant in the packing department, putting straw in boxes and loading trucks. The Johnson boys worked there too. They got paid – money! Don liked it and the owners were nice.
At home, discipline was strict, but loving. We had to keep our rooms clean and do the dishes. We were on a schedule. One night wash and one night dry. Don mowed some lawns too. Don’s parents encouraged dating. He had to tell them when he would be home, but didn’t remember rules about a curfew. There were limits, and Don had to borrow his dad’s car. We went on dates with friends to school events that were supervised.
Don and Ginny attended Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF). We’d all go together to football games and parties afterward. They were fabulous with props and costumes, plays, and movies. There were themes, like a western dinner with square dancing. We’d go to high school events and then to somebody’s house for dessert.
Don’s friends were Don and Ken Johnson. We did everything together, and we are still friends today. I had friends in science, music, and athletics. My closest friends were members of MYF. The Johnson family took me to church with them. Don’s parents didn’t go to church.
Don was a sophomore when he met Ginny. Don played the piano for dances. But, Don took Irene Halgasen to the Junior-Senior Prom. Ginny was a sophomore, and couldn’t attend. The MYF director, right in front of Irene, said, “Don, you don’t have a date for the prom. Why don’t you take Irene?” Don said okay, because I felt obligated, what else could he do? He was trapped!
Bud Larsh and Don were into chemistry. Bud had a high IQ and Don had a Gilbert Chemistry Set. They set up a lab on the porch and were always doing experiments. They liked to play baseball too.
In high school, Don was in the Science Club, Chemistry Club, on the track team, and the Lion’s Club. That was a school-sanctioned club, like a fraternity. They had club sweaters, and Don wrote a song called the Lion’s Club Boogie Woogie.
Don made up his mind to go into chemistry or medicine. He set his own goals. When he went to college, it was right after the Korean War. Don was the youngest in the freshman class. All the others were 2-4 years older. All the medical schools were full. There were lots of older students just back from the war, and they were serious students. Don had tough competition.
Don attended Whittier College on a scholarship. Don was recruited right off the field in high school by Chief Wallace Newman. He was an Indian and football player. Don couldn’t afford tuition. He had to keep his grades up. The scholarship paid 90% and Don’s parents paid the rest. The recruiter also introduced Don to Dr. Ray Newsome, the chairman of the Chemistry Department.
Don’s parents didn’t attend his track meets, but Ginny’s dad, having been a football coach, attended them all with a stopwatch. Louis was working most of the time. There wasn’t time for recreation. Track meets, MYF, and the beach – that’s it. Don’s parent encouraged education and paid for his books. It was important. Don ran around with and competed with the “brains,” and Don’s track friends encouraged him.
Don and Ginny were married in 1949, on Easter vacation in Arcadia. Don was 20 and Ginny was 19. Grandma Thompson thought we were too young. “We new each other well. We had gone together for seven years.” said Don.
Don and Ginny first lived in a garage apartment in Rosemead. The living room was wall-to-wall piano, and the bedroom was wall-to-wall bed. They had a dog named Snoopy, a Springer Spaniel. Ginny worked at the phone company, while Don was still in school. Don worked at a gas station, and in the summers, he worked at the lab at Dupont. One summer Don worked for Hunt’s foods canning peaches. He earned a BA in Chemistry with a minor in Math. Next, Don and Ginny moved to Berkeley to attend graduate school.
Don dropped out of school when Ginny was pregnant with Cherie. Don went to work at Camidor, and set up a lab. He set paint lines. Don also worked at Cutter Laboratories, where he found ways to make the processes work better, and save the company money. They thanked him, but didn’t give him a raise. Don and Ginny decided to head south to Los Angeles again.
D Eldred had a laboratory, doing what Don wanted to do. He asked Don to come and work with him and be a partner in the business. It was for less money, but Don took the offer. They did consulting work for Rep-Cal. They were hired to straighten out a problem redesigning their plating machine. For years - It took a long, long time! D Eldred had a heart attack and couldn’t work anymore. Don did all the work for Cal-Rep and the business. When D died, Don bought the company from D's wife. Don worked there from 1954 -1966. He followed his dream, and he did it! Electro-Chemical Laboratories. Don was able to have his own business.
When Don was 23, he played piano in a combo called the Key Notes. Don also played the organ at church. Three more children followed; Jim, Richard, and Connie Lou. The family attended Temple City Methodist Church. Don and Ginny bought a house on Persimmon St. In 1960, the family moved to the Barela St. house, still in Temple City.