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"He was almost modest to a fault, almost to the point of being self-effacing," Wheeler said. "None of them were aware they were making history, which they were.
"It's highly unlikely that Fender could have achieved anywhere near as worldwide success without Don Randall, despite those wonderful products and despite the genius of Leo Fender."
Randall negotiated the 1965 sale of Fender's firm to CBS for $13 million, and he became the vice president and general manager of the Fender Musical Instrument and Fender Sales divisions of CBS. He resigned in 1969.
A year later, he founded Randall Instruments in Irvine, where he designed and manufactured amplifiers and public address systems. He sold the business in 1987.
Randall was born Oct. 30, 1917, in Kendrick, Idaho, and moved with his family to California when he was 10.
He developed an interest in radio and audio amplifiers in high school and earned his ham radio operator license as a teenager. He also built a portable amplifier and speaker system that he used for parties and dances.
After graduating from the community college in Santa Ana, he worked part time as a salesman for a Santa Ana radio supply shop, during which he first did business with Fender.
After serving in the Army Corps of Engineers, the Signal Corps and Army Air Forces during World War II, Randall returned to the radio business.
Randall's wife of 63 years, Jean, died in 2003.
In addition to his son Tim, he is survived by his daughter, Chelena "Kathy" Grimshaw; his son Don; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
dennis.mclellan@latimes.com
"It's highly unlikely that Fender could have achieved anywhere near as worldwide success without Don Randall, despite those wonderful products and despite the genius of Leo Fender."
Randall negotiated the 1965 sale of Fender's firm to CBS for $13 million, and he became the vice president and general manager of the Fender Musical Instrument and Fender Sales divisions of CBS. He resigned in 1969.
A year later, he founded Randall Instruments in Irvine, where he designed and manufactured amplifiers and public address systems. He sold the business in 1987.
Randall was born Oct. 30, 1917, in Kendrick, Idaho, and moved with his family to California when he was 10.
He developed an interest in radio and audio amplifiers in high school and earned his ham radio operator license as a teenager. He also built a portable amplifier and speaker system that he used for parties and dances.
After graduating from the community college in Santa Ana, he worked part time as a salesman for a Santa Ana radio supply shop, during which he first did business with Fender.
After serving in the Army Corps of Engineers, the Signal Corps and Army Air Forces during World War II, Randall returned to the radio business.
Randall's wife of 63 years, Jean, died in 2003.
In addition to his son Tim, he is survived by his daughter, Chelena "Kathy" Grimshaw; his son Don; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
dennis.mclellan@latimes.com
