Ralph Leroy Nafziger

Ralph Leroy Nafziger (November 17, 1887 – September 17, 1965) was the founder of the Interstate Bakeries Corporation, which eventually became Hostess Brands.

Nafziger was born into a family of bakers on November 17, 1887, in Kansas City, Missouri.^[1] He was studying Engineering and Architecture at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute when he was called home to assist with untangling the business affairs of his father.^[2] Edward Nafziger, who could not pay a chattel mortgage he had taken with a wholesale grocery company.[2] Roy Nafziger started selling bread on a route serviced by a horse and converted milk wagon. He would hire a worker to take over the route, build another one, and then repeat the process.^[3]

Nafziger set up a second bakery

Nafziger was married to Nathalie Schaefer, and was later divorced. His second wife was Vee Roberton Bear. He had two children: Ralph Leroy Nafziger, Jr. and Nathalie Nafziger.[7] He had homes in Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Chicago, and Kansas City.^[8] Nafziger died on September 17, 1965, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 77.^[9] The Interstate Bakeries Corporation continued growing; in 1995, it acquired Continental Baking Company (owners of the Wonder Bread and Hostess product lines) and in 2009 became Hostess Brands.

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