Fort Wayne, IN

 If you've watched college basketball in previous weeks, you've probably heard the town of Fort Wayne, IN. Every time Deshaun Thomas scored or walked up to the free throw line, it seemed that Bill Raftery mention that he was from Fort Wayne. While Mr. Thomas has the attention of the sports world coming from Fort Wayne, but there was someone probably more well known than him from Fort Wayne.

I am talking about Philo Farnsworth. He was key in the invention of the all-electronic television especially known for inventing the image dissector camera tube. Farnsworth established the Farnsworth Television and Radio Corp. in Fort Wayne, IN, which was bought out by ITT (International Telephone and Television) Corp. For those who live in Fort Wayne and other various regions, ITT is still around, mostly as a defense contractor. While Fransworth was there, he researched radar, nuclear fusion, and other systems.

Fransworth made a significant impact to this town that can even be felt now. Obviously ITT is still occupying space in Fort Wayne. Or should I say ITT Exelis now? But I'm going to make a stretch connection now. Magnavox, a defense company (Present day Raytheon), was one of the largest companies in Fort Wayne, IN. At the height of Magnavox, there were 22 buildings around the entire city, with employees everywhere. But most people don't know Magnavox as a defense company but a television brand. The brand, Magnavox, is used by a consumer electronic company, Funai. With all that said, is it a coincidence that Philo Fransworth established his mark in Fort Wayne, IN and Magnavox, one of the biggest companies to be in Fort Wayne, is branded as a television? I think NOT!