LOS ANGELES–Fred J. Russell, a businessman who transformed a bankrupt foundry into a leading seller of residential locks and who served in the administration of U.S. President Richard Nixon, died Jan. 9 in Los Angeles from complications of Parkinson's disease. He was 90.
Born in Alberta, Russell moved with his family to California when he was 10. His father was a lumberjack and farmer.
After graduating from high school, Russell began a career in the aerospace industry. In 1946 he and his brother Frank bought Weiser Lock in a bankruptcy sale. When Russell sold the firm 21 years later, it had grown from eight employees to 1,600 and, according to a Weiser biography, was selling over 30 per cent of all residential locks in the U.S. and more than 50 per cent in Canada.
During the 1968 presidential campaign, Russell backed Nixon with financial contributions. Nixon later appointed him deputy director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness.
Russell leaves long-time companion Gwen Stevens and two children from his marriage to Mildred Balden Russell.
