Biography of O. Russell Albright, Pinellas County, FL File contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Nancy Rayburn (naev@earthlink.net). USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or publication by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ****************************************************************************************** Transcribed from: The History of Florida: Past & Present, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1923. ALBRIGHT, O. RUSSELL. In point of years of experience O. RUSSELL ALBRIGHT is one of the oldest automotive engineers and automobile dealers in Florida. He took up the mechanical end of the business when the automobile was still in its experimental stages. Mr. ALBRIGHT has for a number of years been located at St. Petersburg, where he has been the authorized Ford dealer. He was born in Preston County, West Virginia, March 25, 1888, only son of A. S. and ZOURIE (FALKENSTEIN) ALBRIGHT, his father also a native of Preston County, West Virginia. His parents are now living retired at Lakeland, Florida, the family having come to this state in October 1904. There is one daughter NELLIE, wife of E. R. KELLEY of Miami. O. RUSSELL ALBRIGHT was reared and received his early educational advantages in West Virginia and was sixteen years of age when he came to Florida with his parents. He soon afterward entered the University of Florida at Gainesville, and while there took the mechanical engineering course. After leaving university he began an apprenticeship in a garage in 1909, and became an expert in everything pertaining to the mechanical and technical operation of automotive machinery. In 1911 Mr. ALBRIGHT started a machine shop of his own at Gainesville. Six months later he was awarded the Ford Car Agency in that locality and in 1912 he took in a partner in the sales end. He continued in this business until the outbreak of the World war and in August, 1914, sold out his interest at Gainesville. For about a year he assisted his father in promoting and putting on the market a patented type of automobile jack. In June 1915, Mr. ALBRIGHT married ADA V. HOOVER, of Muscatine, Iowa. In preparation for this event he had equipped a Ford car and immediately after their marriage they started on their honeymoon for California, going by way of Chicago, Omaha, Cheyenne, Salt Lake City, and Reno to San Francisco. Five or six weeks were spent in California, visiting the Northern and the Southern end of the state including Los Angeles and San Diego. They returned by the southern route through Santa Fe, New Mexico, Kansas City, St. Louis, Nashville and back to Gainesville. They were four months on this transcontinental tour, and covered 10,000 miles. The record of their trip is contained in a diary which is now an interesting printed volume. An interesting feature is that they went all the way to California and back as far as Kansas City with Florida air in two rear tires. Shortly after his return Mr. ALBRIGHT made application to the Ford Motor Company for the agency at St. Petersburg, and received a contract from the company on Christmas Day of 1915. In 1919 he built his present plant, a building 100 by 120 feet, fully equipped with every facility for repair, assembling and supply of stock parts for the Ford car. It is a highly efficient automobile plant, and recently moving pictures were taken of the industry and displayed all over the state. On the average of about fifteen men are employed in the business. The first year Mr. ALBRIGHT's sales totaled twenty-eight cars. In 1921, three hundred and four cars were sold and distributed from this agency. The total sales for the year aggregated fifty car loads. Mr. ALBRIGHT has shown himself to be a very public spirited citizen of St. Petersburg since locating there. He was elected a member of the City Commission in April, 1921, for a two year term. He is one of the charter directors of the Y. M. C. A., a trustee and financial secretary of the Lutheran Church and a church councilor. He is a stockholder in the Ninth Street Bank and Trust Company and is a charter member of the Automobile Club of St. Petersburg. Mr. And Mrs. ALBRIGHT have one son RUSSELL GEORGE, now six years old, and a daughter MARY JANE, aged two. Their home is on the North Shore at 416 Twenty-first Avenue, North.