Kettering

Charles Kettering invented the electric starter for the motor vehicle, saving many a thumb from being broken, and making it easier for women to drive cars. His company, the Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company (DELCO), is now part of General Motors. He started out working for the National Cash Register Company (NCR). He took over Orville Wright's plane factory, and made bombers during World War I. He had 300 patents, founded hospitals and schools, and has a town and three schools named after him. He was a genuine American genius.

For Luddites with computers

If you're a hybrid Luddite/geek, like one or two of my relatives (you know who you are), you can use these Printable Paper Productivity Tools to print yourself pocket calendars, organizers, etc, using some amazing templates. My favorite is the PocketMod, which I would use if I didn't already have a PDA which I lurve.