Joseph Sunnen*

Born in Thayer, Illinois, in 1897, Joseph Sunnen was the son of a coal miner. In the seventh grade, he quit school to help on the family farm. Later, he moved to Missouri to work in his brother's auto garage.

In 1923 at 21, Sunnen invented a valve lifter tool that he wanted to market, but an explosion nearly claimed his life. Severely burned over most of his body, Sunnen made a commitment that if he lived he would devote himself to mankind.

A year later, a malfunctioning machine cut off the ends of three of Sunnen's fingers, but he didn't let that stop him from launching his Sunnen Products Company in 1924. He invented a cylinder honing machine and other repair tools, and throughout his lifetime, he applied for nearly 100 patents.

True to his word, after his recovery, Sunnen gave half of his annual company income to charity.