Melvin G. Anderson, 96; He Let A Handshake Seal A Deal

Melvin G. Anderson, who founded Seattle Marine & Fishing Supply Co. - an industry giant - was a man of lasting habits and integrity.

The son of Norwegian immigrants, he always went to work on the piers in a white shirt and tie, sweater and dress slacks. He always kept his word and never forgot anything he said, letting a handshake seal a deal, said employees at his retirement in 1981.

And he always ate a canned-salmon sandwich for lunch - except when he went out - for 50 years.

"He felt that because he had all the fishermen come in, he had to show them he ate salmon," said his granddaughter, Susan Anderson DeNies of Seattle. "Gladys (his wife) made one every day."

Mr. Anderson died May 16 at age 96.

Born in Seattle but reared in Anchorage, he enlisted in the Army when World War I broke out and was sent to boot camp in Pennsylvania, where his lieutenant was Dwight David Eisenhower. They were friends for life, said DeNies.

After the war, Mr. Anderson returned to Seattle to finish his schooling at Broadway High School. He spent summers as a roustabout in Alaska, and he attended the University of Washington, where he was a varsity oarsman from 1920 to 1923. He graduated in zoology, majoring in fisheries.

In 1929, having worked in commercial fisheries, Mr. Anderson started a cannery in Friday Harbor, San Juan County, but went bankrupt when the stock market crashed. He founded his own company in 1947.

His granddaughter said Mr. Anderson trusted people, even when he occasionally got burned; his saving grace was that he was an "astute" businessman. He continued to do Seattle Marine's book work until 1992 and was a company director.

Mr. Anderson was a Mason and a member of the Shrine and the Scottish Rite, said DeNies.

The other survivor is his son, Eugene Anderson of Seattle. Services have been held.

Remembrances may be sent to the Melvin G. Anderson Fisheries Scholarship Fund, University of Washington, WH-10, Seattle, WA 98195, or to the Shrine Crippled Children's Fund, c/o the Nile Temple, 6601 244th St. S.W., Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043.