Marion Frank Rudy (24 January 1925 – 13 December 2009) was the

aeronautical engineer Aerospace engineering is the primary field of engineering concerned with the development of aircraft and spacecraft. It has two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering. Avionics engineering is sim ...

who patented a cushioning system based on an

inert gas An inert gas is a gas that does not readily undergo chemical reactions with other chemical substances and therefore does not readily form chemical compounds. The noble gases often do not react with many substances and were historically referred to ...

encapsulated in

polyurethane Polyurethane (; often abbreviated PUR and PU) refers to a class of polymers composed of organic units joined by carbamate (urethane) links. In contrast to other common polymers such as polyethylene and polystyrene, polyurethane is produced from ...

plastic. It was trademarked by

Nike Nike often refers to: * Nike (mythology), a Greek goddess who personifies victory * Nike, Inc., a major American producer of athletic shoes, apparel, and sports equipment Nike may also refer to: People * Nike (name), a surname and feminine give ...

as the "Air" sole. He was a member of Case Western Reserve University's class of 1950, and a graduate of Fairview High School, in

Fairview Park, Ohio Fairview Park is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. A suburb of Cleveland, it once formed part of the historical Rockport Township, along with the area of West Park and the suburbs of Lakewood and Rocky River. It borders Clevela ...

. He was also a member of the

Phi Kappa Tau Phi Kappa Tau (), commonly known as Phi Tau (), is a collegiate fraternity located in the United States. The fraternity was founded in 1906. As of November 2022, the fraternity has 161 chartered chapters, 79 active chapters, 6 Associate chapte ...

fraternity. The 19 varsity athletic teams at his alma mater,

Case Western Reserve Spartans The Case Western Reserve Spartans are the varsity intercollegiate athletic teams of Case Western Reserve University, located in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. Case Western Reserve University competes at the NCAA Division III level. The Spartan ...

, wear a special patch on their uniforms commemorating him and his invention. The emblem has Rudy's initials, MFR, with a 3D design of special texture and shine to resemble inflated air sole look, and has orbiting planets pay tribute to his career as an aerospace engineer. Rudy died in his home in California on December 13, 2009. He was 84 years old.oregonlive.com
Accessed 2009-12-26.

References

American aerospace engineers Case Western Reserve University alumni 1925 births 2009 deaths Nike, Inc. people People from Fairview Park, Ohio Engineers from Ohio 20th-century American engineers 20th-century American inventors {{US-inventor-stub