About Carl Nomura
Carl Nomura was born in a boxcar somewhere between Deer Lodge, Mont. and Three Forks, Mont. He was the third son of immigrant Japanese American parents and the family struggled to survive. Moving constantly around the West Coast, the family spent time farming, working on the railroad and running a small general store. When World War II started, the Nomura family was relocated to Manzanar, an internment camp in California. Carl decided to become a migratory farm laborer to escape the drudgery and humiliation of the internment camp, and was later drafted into the Army. When the war ended, he made another decision—to get his education so no one could ever take that away from him. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physics in 1948, a master’s of science degree in 1949 and a doctorate degree in physics in 1953.
Nomura started out as a research physicist with Honeywell in 1953. He moved through the ranks of the company, eventually reaching manager level then corporate executive level. Over the course of his career, he has won many awards including a fellowship with the American Physical Society in recognition of his fundamental research in the field of solid state physics. He also won the Distinguished Graduate/ Outstanding Achievement Award from the University of Minnesota, who placed his name on their “Scholar’s Wall” in recognition of his work in semiconductor research, his leadership and his management skills. When he retired, the CEO of Honeywell credited him with converting Honeywell’s full range of products from small components to big computers and from vacuum tubes and electro-mechanical technologies to modern solid states.
Sleeping on Potatoes is a collection of short stories Nomura has written about his life. Without bitterness, he explores his childhood, his career, his marriage and his relationships with the people around him. With humor and candor, Nomura provides a glimpse into the life of a successful corporate executive who came from nothing.
After retiring from Corporate America, Nomura spent some time in Florida before moving to Port Townsend, Wash. Port Townsend is a beacon for active retirement and Nomura owns a local Japanese restaurant in the town. Nomura has four grown children and eight grandchildren. He lives with his wife Lois and together, they travel extensively. They also run their own farm and donate the produce to an area food shelter. He is working on his second book, Successful Management With Low Stress.