People pass through our lives. Some leave a lasting impression, while other just irritate us and get out. But many times we remember people fondly and are sad upon their passing. I often see guys who’ve passed that were younger than me, who did great things, yet who left behind a legacy. Am I am reminded of my own mortality. Yes, deep thoughts abound……
How will I be remembered? By something I did, by something I wrote, by something I was convicted of (um… hope not), by my children…… Maybe that chapter isn’t written yet. Maybe I will do something great or perhaps I will just be remembered for being great. That’s an interesting prospect, would you rather be remembered for being great or for doing something great?
Join me as I remember some great men who’ve passed, some in recent years, some a while back. Some you’ll know by name, others you’ll just know what they did. Each of these men touched our lives in some way. …… and I told myself I wouldn’t cry.
Stuart Scott (1965 to 2015) This is the person that sparked this article. I was a long time admire of Stuart Scott. Being born the same year as he, his career on ESPN had special meaning. His catch phrase “Cool as the other side of the pillow” quickly grew to be one of my favorite phrases. In his segments he also made the catch phrase “Boo-Yah” household lingo. Stuart Scott brought both entertainment and a high sports IQ to the air. Personally, I hate it when ESPN hosts put themselves ahead of the story, they spend more time trying to show themselves than report the scores and news, Stuart never did that. Through his quiet professionalism, he shined by his own style while reporting the scores and highlights. Stuart – I miss you on the air my friend.
Jacob Golomb (1921 to 1995) as chairman of the Everlast Sporting Goods Manufacturing Company, Jacob Golomb was mainly known as the leading maker of Boxing equipment in the world But in 1925, he did something amazing. He switched out the leather around the waist of boxing trunks and put in elastic. And that was the creation of what we now call Boxer Shorts. And let’s get real for a moment, now that the young guys in the world are wearing their pants ½ way down their ass, boxer shorts have made a huge come-back.
Kenny Baker ( 1935 to 2016) though we never actually saw him in the movies, he played a major role in the movies we remember. Was it a machine maneuvered by remote control? No, it was a person that did the bleeps and boops. Yes, Kenny Baker was R2-D2 in the Star Wars movies.
Ray McIntire (1918 – 1996) All those times we stood there with the door open just looking. Thinking, no – KNOWING – that somehow, someway, something we had overlooked the previous 3 times will magically appear before us that wasn’t there before. Something brought to you by the God of Left Overs. Perhaps a re-creation of the Loaves and Fishes. Who knows. But as guys, we continuously stand there at the refrigerator looking and looking for that one edible item that was left over. Perhaps if there had been some way to transport the remainder of our dinner out that our wife was unable to finish, because she wasn’t a member of the “clean plate club”. BUT WAIT – thanks to Ray McIntire there is. For Ray McIntire created Styrofoam. But for the environment as it turns out, but still…… It held/holds our coffee, and our left over entrees from dinners past. YEAH STYROFOAM!!!!!
Muhammad Ali or Cassius Clay (1942 – 2016) the ultimate in both sports and entertainment, he truly was the greatest of all time. Me, personally, I loved his trash talking, he took it to a new level, and did it with both poise and poetry. He spoke it and then he got in the ring and he backed it up. My favorite, “If you even dream of beating me, you better wake up and apologize.” Seriously, how cool is that? Why, it’s as cool as the other side of the pillow. Ali was truly the “Greatest of All-Time”. And when he lifted the Olympic flame to light the fire in Atlanta, there might not have been a dry eye on the planet.
Ron Engleman (1934 – 2008) NOW, while this list of great men is in no particular order, if it were, this guy would most certainly be near the very top of the list. All too often, we don’t give enough appreciation to the written or spoken word. Will there ever be another Shakespeare? I think not. Will we ever have another Edgar Allen Poe or a Hemmingway? Doubtful. But sometimes we are blessed with a literary genius, someone who can take that which we all want to express and put all those pent up feelings into the spoken word. And what masterpiece is Ron Engleman believed to have penned? Why, he is credited as the 1st person to put pen to paper and create the phrase, “Bite Me.”
Bill Bowerman (1911 – 1999) Bill was on a quest. Bill wanted to improve his runner’s performance. As a legendary coach of University of Oregon, he turned them into a track and field power, dare I say, “dynasty”? Yes, I think I might. As the co-founder of Nike, every runner at any level of success has worn his shoes at one time. When I was training as a college runner in the mile and 800 meter run, I would often look at workout his runners he coached were doing. I raced with some level of success and never really thought about the science that went into the running shores I wore. When he created the waffle sole for Nike shoes, he ruined many different waffle irons of his wife’s to get that waffle design. Not only did it create better traction, but it also made the shoe lighter and cut down on drag. Bill, simply put, you were, and still very much are, “The Man”.
Natale Olivieri (1888 – 1970) Maybe the man was just thirsty. Or perhaps he was a food chemist. Or maybe he was both. But Natale is something of a legend of a Big Guy legend by inventing a product we all loved as a kid, and many people still enjoy today. What did he invent? Please…. And Come on man….. Natale Olivieri invented Yoo-Hoo. See, he sold fruit juice, but it wasn’t enough, he needed something else. Yoo-Hoo doesn’t have the smooth splash as it did in it’s early days, but come on, after reading this…. You know you want one.
Willis Carrier (1876 – 1950) Global warming or climate change, doesn’t matter what it’s called. Believe it or thinki t’s a hoax created by the Chinese, all I know is, it’s hot in the summer. But Willis Carrier, lets call him Bill, we’re all friends here, wanted to do something about it. Bill wasn’t just concerned about himself, no, Bill was concerned about the comfort level of everyone. So, rather then just stew in his own sweat, Bill said to himself, “NO, I will not accept this oppressive heat anymore.” Bill got out his mechanical pencil, put that pencil to paper, took that paper and got out his trusty tool box and created the air conditioner. Bill’s company still exists today, Carrier, and they are still keeping all of us cool today. So, I’m left to wonder; did Bill want to put the entire world, and himself, in cool temperature comfort, or was he constantly surrounded by big sweaty guys and got tired of their stink. Regardless of the reason – Bill is the bomb. But a much, much cooler bomb.
Jesse Reno (1861 – 1947) NOW, please keep in mind, I am not lazy. In fact, when possible, I will take the stairs as opposed to an elevator. I’m not afraid of small places, and I don’t fear being trapped inside. But I don’t mind the stairs, and if only 1 flight, I usually find that stairs are the faster alternative. And if I get a few steps in the process, even better. But this is different, as usually when I need to carry suitcases, I need to go up or down a flight of stairs. Jesse Reno had this dilemma in mind when he invented the escalator. Not only is it a great invention, created to help the flow of traffic by not creating a long line of people as they wait to step into a box to go from one floor to another, but it is also a great way to entertain children. Now me, I could never get the slinky to work on them as they did on TV, but that’s not Jesse Reno’s fault. And it’s not Richard James’ fault either. Yes, Richard James invented the slinky, but not on purpose, nope, it was created by accident. In 1943 Richard was working on springs, trying to devise springs that could keep sensitive equipment stable and steady while at sea. You have to wonder it Jesse and Richard ever met…….
Bill Lear (1902 – 1978) Who is this man? He who had such an impact on the 70s but is now completely forgotten. Remember reel to reel? Many people had that media as a way to listen to music. Me, I had vinyl that I still listen to and I also had cassettes, which made listening to my musical library easier to transport. But not enough. Not for this guy. This guy needed an even different way to listen to music. Bill Lear created the 8-Track. Yes, the 8-Track. Many younger people reading have heard of cassettes, maybe they’ve even seen them in their parents belongings as they clean them out just after putting them in a home. 8-Tracks were a whole different music media. My parents had an 8-Track player and even had a couple of 8-tracks. But they quickly died out. So, while Bill Lear might not get the highest grade for his actual invention, he does get an “A” for effort.
Chester Carlson (1906 – 1968) So, do you ever sit at your desk and wonder to yourself, “Self, I wonder what Jim does in his spare time?” You know, that “spare” time when I’m not writing something or working around the house? Well, believe it not, Jim does have an actual job. Well, since 1989 I’ve been making in copying and printing. And who is the guy behind all of my professional success? To whom do I attribute al of the greatness that is me? Why to Chester Carlton, he is the inventor of Xerograhic Printing. Now, don’t get me wrong, I enjoy writing things for but “Jim’s Take” ain’t paying enough to put the kids through college, and until it does, Jim of “Jim’s Take” needs to keep reproducing to put food on the table.
Robert Gundlach (1926 – 2010) – I also have to mention this gentleman. While Chester invented Xerographic Printing, Robert redefined and redesigned it to invent the Photocopier, using film and not a scanning process. It helps increase the quality or reproductions. So Robert, thanks from this guy who’s been in the reproduction field for going on 30+ years. Now, if we could just do something about paper jams, my life would even be that much closer to being complete.
Robert Adler (1913 – 2007) This guy right here!!! How many true visionaries can actually take an idea and turn it into a reality to change our lives completely? Robert Adler was that person. Or was he? Was he a visionary, or was he just simply lazy and wanted to make something because he was tired of getting off the couch. Maybe he was sitting on the couch one night, watching I Love Lucy and eating a bowl of soup and he had to get up to change the channel when his program ended. Maybe he had an injury, perhaps a broken leg, and he was immobile and no one else was home and he was forced to watch episode after episode of soap operas because he couldn’t get up to change the channel. Either way – Robert Adler didn’t just sit there moaning and groaning. No. Robert Adler did something. He created the Television Remote Control. Now, big achievement, yes. No doubt about it. BUT, to put it in it’s proper perspective. Robert Adler created this hand held channel changing devise when there weren’t that many TV channels. With but a handful of channels at the time, he must have seriously motivated. If it were present time, with some 900 channels, sure, who wouldn’t be motivated. But back then, less shows, less channels….. phew…. Robert Adler, you get a big salute from me.
But the post doesn’t stop there. There are many men left out, many men who either created something, or said something of note that we left off this very partial list. Maybe the best invention of all time has yet to be invented. Maybe after reading this you’ll be inspired to create something. Maybe you’ll be inspired to pen the world’s greatest novel. So, for that, I say humbly, “You’re welcome”.
My Take on Life and Events 