Alice Ramona Blysted was born in Boulder, Colorado
October 22, 2019
1937
The high school sweethearts married and set out to start a new life together. They ended up in Inglewood, California, where Roland's brother, Ray, gave him a sales job at a local paint shop. A natural salesman, Roland began painting buildings seven days a week and saved up enough money to buy a truck.
October 22, 2019
1948
Roland started Elixir Paint & Lacquer Company in a tiny 600-square-foot building in East Los Angeles. After buying surplus government equipment at auction, he began manufacturing paints and lacquers for trailers and manufactured homes.
October 22, 2019
Mid-1950s
Roland started other companies, including Bay Cities Paint Shop, which manufactured doors for RVs and manufactured homes, and Spraymatic Corporation, which specialized in painting metal sheets used on travel trailers, motor homes and mobile homes.
October 22, 2019
1960s
Elixir grew into a full-service nationwide travel trailer and mobile home supply house, opening manufacturing and warehouse facilities in California, Idaho, Georgia, Indiana, Oregon, and Texas. In 1969, all the affiliate companies were organized into Elixir Industries.
October 22, 2019
1971
Elixir Industries was listed on the New York and Pacific Stock Exchanges. At the time it went public, Elixir had 34 divisions in 26 states.
October 22, 2019
1972
Roland and Ramona finished construction of their estate, Del Dios Ranch, on the grounds where their only child, Doug, had dove-hunted with his father since the early '50s. The 8,100 square foot house was built from Petaluma redwood and included radiant-heated marble floors, New Orleans tempered glass, a tennis court, 40 acres of Valencia oranges, and a 6-stall equestrian barn.
October 22, 2019
1975
Ramona hosted her first Christmas Musicale for the San Diego Symphony and San Diego Opera in the Del Dios residence. In what would become an annual tradition that lasted for decades, hundreds of music lovers filled the house and grounds to delight in a holiday program surrounded by the warmth of her hospitality. The Sahms underwrote all expenses for the Musicales to ensure that every penny of the profits would end up where it was needed.
October 22, 2019
1982
Following reorganization spurred by the 1970s fuel crisis, Roland bought back the 61% of Elixir Industries held by public shareholders. After 10 years of being publicly traded, Elixr was once again a private corporation, owned and guided by its founder.
October 22, 2019
1997
Ramona was granted 501(c)(3) status for her Sahm Family Foundation and continued to foster her charitable relationships with local and area organizations.
October 22, 2019
1998
Ramona joined the board of Lux Art Institute as president and donated one million dollars in seed money for the museum.
October 22, 2019
2003
Roland passed away at the age of 85. That same year, he and Ramona celebrated 65 years of marriage. He was an integral part of Elixir Industries' operations until the day he died.
October 22, 2019
2013
Ramona passed away at the age of 93. She is survived by her son, Doug, 3 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.
