Greetings family, friends and neighbors! I hope that you enjoy today's memorable character vignette about self proclaimed "Nostalgician" Ralph Rambo.........Bill

Ralph Rambo, “Nostalgician”

My first job after graduating from college in 1966 was as a designer with Muirson Label Company in San Jose. Muirson was a pioneer label printer since 1916 serving the fruit and vegetable industry in the Santa Clara Valley, “The Valley of Heart’s Delight”. I didn’t know at the time that 1966 was also the year that Ralph Rambo retired after nearly fifty years as Muirson’s principle designer and Art Director. Born in San Jose in 1894 and growing up in the orchards of Santa Clara Valley, Rambo was hired by George Muirson to work in the foundry of his printing company and within a year he was re-assigned to hand engrave all of the printing dies for the companies presses. Santa Clara Valley’s agriculture business boomed in the early 1900’s and with a growing staff and improved printing technology Muirson was printing millions of Rambo designed and art directed labels annually.

My boss and the new Art Director was Michael Angelo (really!) and although retired, Ralph Rambo maintained a small office in our art department and would come in a few days a week to work at his second career as Santa Clara’s honorary “nostalgician”, and where my path would cross with this truly memorable character. The tall, thin, self-effacing gentleman earned a proclamation from the San Jose City Council and a permanent display at the San Jose History Park for his twelve books on local history combining his drawing talent, wit, and his love for Santa Clara Valley. Ralph’s first book, Almost Forgotten, published by Rosicrucian Press recalled his boyhood days growing up in rural San Jose. His uniquely crafted books were carefully hand lettered and illustrated with hundreds humorous caricatures and cartoons in a style he termed “pen and inklings”. Ralph’s books were carefully illustrated entertaining collections of stories, anecdotes and memories of simpler times in the Valley of Heart’s Delight written and drawn to be shared with future generations.

Memorable Characters by Bill Ralph