Voting Station

Frank Zamboni

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Inventor

The Resume

    (January 16, 1901-July 27, 1988)
    Born in Eureka, Utah
    Operated electical and block ice business (Zamboni Bros. Co.) during the 1920s & 30s in an L.A. suburb
    Sold the block ice business in 1939 and in 1940 opened Iceland, one of the country's largest ice rinks (20,000 sq. ft. skating surface)
    Perfected his first ice resurfacing machine in 1949 and opened the Frank J. Zamboni & Co. shop to sell the devices
    Died of lung cancer at age 87
    8,500th Zamboni machine delivered to the City Hall of Kitchener, Ontario, Canada(March 2007)

Why he might be annoying:

    Though his birth name was Frank Joseph Zamboni, Jr. he never used the Junior.
    He dropped out of high school during his freshman year.
    It took four years for his invention to officially become patented (May 1949-June 1953).
    Most people don't know he also invented a machine that quickly removes rainwater from Astroturf.
    After his wife died, he lost his will to live and died just two months after her.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was married to the same woman for 65 years.
    As a shrewd businessman he saw a need for an ice resurfacing machine, invented it, and became a self-made millionaire.
    His device turned a 90-minute task done by three people to a one-man, 10-minute job.
    He became a charter member of the Ice Skating Institute of America, was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 1965 and served as its president from 1965-67.
    He was granted 15 U.S. patents.
    Some of his Zambonis still operate after 50 years.

Credit: Scar Tactics


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 21 Votes: 23.81% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 131 Votes: 51.15% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 30.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 20 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 26 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 148 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 18 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 72 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 31 Votes: 35.48% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 48 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 47 Votes: 34.04% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 196 Votes: 43.37% Annoying