Webtron mourns the passing of Jim Allison

Webtron has announced the passing of James Allison on September 16, 2012.

Allison joined the company in the 1960s. Webtron said he will be remembered for his fishing, camping prowess and impact on the label printing industry as he met customers around the world through tradeshows, many of which became his friends. 

He will be missed by all in the label business and label machinery business, along with everyone he worked with at Webtron

Allison served during the Korean War, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a BA degree in production management in 1961.

He worked for Bradey Industries for about around five years.  He also worked as a machine designer and product specialist at Columbia Label, a young company started by Dave Mages. Columbia Label was later sold to Sheldon Glass.

In 1966, Allison was named manufacturing and methods engineer of York Tape & Label, Inc. 

He worked there until 1969 when he took a job with Webtron, a year-old company owned by Dave Mages, Frank Moynes and Bob Holyoke.

He and his family transferred to England where he headed up Webtron's sales and technical service office in Slough.

He was instrumental in the manufacture of the first four-inch multi-color Webtron press.

In 1970, he transferred to Webtron's Glenview office to run their sales department. He and his family moved back to the Chicago suburbs.

Allison was then named vice president of sales in 1972, and then vice president of operations for Webtron in 1975.

When Webtron's manufacturing division moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1978, he was named vice president, general manager of Webtron, a position he held until he retired in 1985.

He served as a consultant to the industry for a few years after retiring. He and his wife continued to live in Coral Springs, Florida until 1990 when they relocated to Oregon to be near their family.