Ralph Leroy Nafziger

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

Early life Nafziger was born into a family of bakers on November 17, 1887, in Kansas City, Missouri.

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, Edward Nafziger, who could not pay a chattel mortgage he had taken with a wholesale grocery company.

Career Ralph 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.

Nafziger set up a second bakery in the basement of a burned out Christian church at 6th and Prospect Avenue in the Kansas City's Northeast Neighborhood.

Personal life Nafziger was married to Nathalie Schaefer, and was later divorced. His second marriage to Vee M. Bear lasted from April 9, 1949 until June 17, 1958. He had two children: Ralph Leroy Nafziger, Jr. and Nathalie Nafziger. 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.