Ingenuiety is by far the most important skill in advancing society. Lots of people can make a substance or an object, but it is the useful application of that item that makes us progress. Bill Gates didn't invent the computer, or even the mouse - a couple guys from Xerox did. But he knew the impact of what it could do was. In that vein, we honor Lester Shubin .....
Lester Who? Exactly. I couldn't even find a picture of him. That's how unknown Shubin was. But that is irrelevant. Shubin can be credited with saving the lives of over 3000 cops in the last few decades. How? Shubin invented the Kevlar Bulletproof Vest. No, Shubin did not invent Kevlar - that was the lady they always show on the DuPont commercials. But Shubin, who was a Justice Department engineer at the time, figured out that Kevlar could be made into a jacket to keep cops safer.
He also advanced the use of drug-sniffing dogs in the 1970's - a concept that is pretty much accepted today. Kevlar had it's critics in the day too - like the manufacturers who feared liability if it failed. That all ended when a Philadelphia city cop was shot at point-blank range, and walked away with minor bruises. Shubin stayed on at the Justice Department until he retired in 1992. This week, he passed away at the age of 84 at his home in Virginia. It must be pretty cool to know that you made a difference in so many people's lives with one small application. We'll say it for everyone else...... Thanks !
We have a big surprise to add to this post.... Mr. Shubin's granddaughter ran across our post on a Google search, and sent us a couple pictures of him to add. Thanks a lot, Rachel - and thanks to your Grandfather !
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4 comments:
When we meet for that purple haze at the 'Creek, remind me to tell you how ridiculously unscientific the "training" for drug dogs is. Sure you may have pure heroin in your trunk...or it could just be a Kong Toy.
I imagine it would be, considering we are talking about using dogs. Still, the bulletproof vests are pretty cool..
Lester Shubin was a man who made a difference in many people's lives. Not only did he develop the Kevlar vest, he worked on developing the decontamination chamber for early our astronauts.
Lester did not seek glory for his many excellent and innovative ideas over the years, he just wanted to pepple.
His obituary can be found at
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/25/AR2009112503917.html?sub=AR
A female invented the first bullet proof vest right.
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