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Richard Knerr

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Entrepreneur

The Resume

    (June 30, 1925-January 18, 2008)
    Born in San Gabriel, California
    Co-founder with Arthur 'Spud' Mellin of Wham-O (1948)
    Marketed the Hula Hoop (1957), Frisbee (1957), Slip N Slide (1961), Super Ball (1966) and Silly String (1972)
    Wham-O was sold to Kransco (1982), Mattel (1994) and Cornerstone Overseas Investment (2002)

Why he might be annoying:

    He and Mellin initially started a business training falcons and taught the birds to chase after prey by launching meatballs with a homemade slingshot.
    They started their toy company after a potential customer expressed more interest in the slingshot than the birds.
    In addition to slingshots, they also marketed crossbows, throwing knives and a .22 caliber single shot target pistol to kids.
    He and Mellin are sometimes described as co-inventors of the Frisbee and Hula Hoop even though both items had existed years before they sold them.
    Their attempt to cash in on the Cold War with a $119 do-it-yourself fallout shelter flopped.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He and Mellin met as teenagers and stayed life-long friends.
    They named Wham-O after the sound a slingshot made hitting a target.
    Wham-O was responsible for some the biggest fads in American history.
    He said, 'If Spud and I had to say what we contributed, it was fun. But I think this country gave us more than we gave it. It gave us the opportunity to do it.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 14 Votes: 28.57% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 8 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 12 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 12 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 27 Votes: 59.26% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 22 Votes: 36.36% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 123 Votes: 46.34% Annoying