Wham-O Founder Dead

Richard Knerr, the guy who brought you such crazes as the Hula-Hoop, the Superball and the Frisbee, died on January 14. Mr. Knerr was 82 and died from complications from a stroke.
The Hula Hoop was the original 'fad' item - selling 140 million in the first two years alone! Despite the sales, Wham-O would only profit $10,000 from the sales of Hula Hoops thanks to having a mountain of stock left after the fad died out.
Check out this article on the New York Times web page. (Registration required). Don't wanna register? Then don't.