Friday, January 9, 2009

Dead Page: Eight Inventors Who Died in 2008-- Part 2

Continuing with the Dec. 31, 2008, Chicago Tribune article.


CHARLIE BOOTH, 104

Sprinter who trained at a dog tack in Australia. The sprinters would dig their shoes into the dirt at the start of a race and later the dogs would get injured from the holes. After complaints, he took a T-Bar and attached two pieces of wood, inventing the runner's starting block. Raced until he was 99, winning his age group's 100-meter sprint in 28 seconds.


HUGH BRADNER, 92


An avid deep-sea diver, sought a way to keep warm in cold water. Invented a suit hat trapped water between the suit and skin, thus the wet suit was invented.


HERB PETERSON, 89

Began his career in the advertising department of McDonald's and was particularly fond of eggs Benedict. A franchise-owner in 1972, and created a hand-held version known today as the Egg McMuffin by adding a slice of Canadian bacon, an egg cooked in a ring mold to a toasted English muffin.


CARMEN ROCHA, 77


Didn't invent it, but helped popularize nachos. As a waitress at Los Angeles' famed El Cholo restaurant she began serving tortilla chips with shredded cheddar cheese and jalapeno slices which she then baked.


They Sure Made Living Much Better. --Old Coot

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