Wino Posted February 12, 2010 Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 Sorry to see Mr. Morrison pass. His invention certainly brought joy to many people around the world. From this article, it doesn't sound like he made much money from his invention. I might be wrong. By DOUG ALDEN, AP Sports Writer SALT LAKE CITY – Walter Fredrick Morrison, the man credited with inventing the Frisbee, has died. He was 90. Utah House Rep. Kay McIff, an attorney who represented Morrison in a royalties case, says Morrison died at his home in Monroe, Utah, on Tuesday. McIff is from Richfield, Morrison's original hometown. "That simple little toy has permeated every continent in every country, as many homes have Frisbees as any other device ever invented," McIff said. "How would you get through your youth without learning to throw a Frisbee?" Morrison's son, Walt, told The Associated Press Thursday that "old age caught up" with his father and that he also had cancer. "He was a nice guy. He helped a lot of people," Walt Morrison said. "He was an entrepreneur. He was always looking for something to do." Morrison sold the production and manufacturing rights to his "Pluto Platter" in 1957. The plastic flying disc was later renamed the "Frisbee," with sales surpassing 200 million discs. It is now a staple at beaches and college campuses across the country and spawned sports like Frisbee golf and the team sport Ultimate. An official disc golf course at Creekside Park in the Salt Lake City suburb of Holladay is named for Morrison. Morrison co-wrote a book with Frisbee enthusiast and historian Phil Kennedy in 2001. Kennedy released a brief biography about Morrison on Thursday, wishing his late friend "smoooooth flights." According to Kennedy, Morrison and his future wife, Lu, used to toss a tin cake pan on the beach in California. The idea grew as Morrison considered ways to make the cake pans fly better and after serving as a pilot in World War II, Morrison began manufacturing his flying discs in 1948. He would hawk the discs at local fairs and eventually attracted Wham-O Manufacturing, the company that bought the rights to Morrison's plastic discs. Kennedy says Wham-O adopted the name "Frisbee" because that's what college students in New England were calling the Pluto Platters. The name came from the Frisbie Pie Co., a local bakery whose empty tins were tossed like the soon-to-be Frisbee. Walt Morrison said his father is survived by three children. The family is planning a service for Morrison's friends and relatives Saturday at the Cowboy Corral in Elsinore. http://news.yahoo.co...cmlzYmVlaW52ZW4- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyExpat Posted February 12, 2010 Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 I read about this. I spent many a days when I was a kid playing Frisbee! I can't imagine many not doing the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer Chang Posted February 12, 2010 Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 Morrison sold the production and manufacturing rights to his "Pluto Platter" in 1957. Who knows what that means? Could still have been in for a cut, or maybe cut out of profits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Posted February 13, 2010 Report Share Posted February 13, 2010 I read about this. I spent many a days when I was a kid playing Frisbee! I can't imagine many not doing the same. Right on! First, for me, was the hula hoop - and, yes, I and millions of other yanks looked dumber than hell playing with that. But the frisbee was not only fun, it was cool! (especially since the older generation at the time was totally clueless and uncoordinated as to how to properly throw the damn thing...hehe). In my dinky city in northern Michigan, they have a few of the frisbee golf deals set up and there seems to be quite a few kids (mostly college age) that play it. So, I guess it's still cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wino Posted February 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 Who would have thought simple toys like the hula hoop and frisbee would be so popular and fun? Both were great inventions and required the user to spend some energy. Nothing like today's gadgets where the kids are on the couch glued to a TV screen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 Who would have thought simple toys like the hula hoop and frisbee would be so popular and fun? Both were great inventions and required the user to spend some energy. Nothing like today's gadgets where the kids are on the couch glued to a TV screen. Well, ya gotta admit that the younger set these days have much better-developed thumb control than we ever did. If it keeps up, there's going to be a lot of people in the nursing homes in 50-60 years whose thumbs are crippled...hehe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wino Posted February 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 Well, ya gotta admit that the younger set these days have much better-developed thumb control than we ever did. If it keeps up, there's going to be a lot of people in the nursing homes in 50-60 years whose thumbs are crippled...hehe. They will never make it to 50-60 years unless Michelle Obama's fight against childhood obesity takes off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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