October 05

Thomas Clark Durant (1820–1885) was an American financier whose ambition spearheaded the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad. As vice president of the Union Pacific Railroad, he orchestrated aggressive expansion across the American West. Durant co-founded the Crédit Mobilier construction company, raising vast sums for the railroad but later tied to a major political scandal. He invested in communities along the rail lines, fostering economic growth while cultivating a flamboyant public image. Despite controversy, his contributions to rail connectivity reshaped transportation and commerce in the United States.

Earl Tupper was born in 1907 in Salem, Massachusetts, and studied chemical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1946, he invented Tupperware, a line of airtight plastic containers that transformed home food storage. He pioneered the concept of direct sales through Tupperware parties, creating a global marketing phenomenon. Under his leadership, Tupperware became an iconic brand, empowering homes and communities worldwide. Tupper retired in 1958 but left an indelible mark on consumer products and entrepreneurship until his death in 1983.

Seymour Cray is widely regarded as the "father of supercomputing." He designed the CDC 6600, considered the world’s first supercomputer, while at Control Data Corporation. In 1972, he founded Cray Research and developed the famed Cray-1 and Cray-2 systems. Cray’s innovations in vector processing and cooling technology set the standard for high-performance computing. He was known for his hands-on approach, often designing components himself on pencil and paper. Under his leadership, Cray Research dominated the market for scientific and engineering simulations. His legacy endures in modern parallel computing architectures and the continued success of Cray Inc.

Antonio Peña was a Mexican wrestling promoter and former wrestler. In 1992 he founded Asistencia Asesoría y Administración, later known as Lucha Libre AAA World Wide. Peña introduced high-flying and theatrical elements that transformed modern Lucha Libre. Under his leadership, AAA became one of Mexico's top wrestling promotions, hosting major events like Triplemanía. He nurtured talents such as Rey Mysterio Jr. and contributed to the global popularity of Mexican wrestling. Peña's innovative vision left a lasting legacy on the business and culture of professional wrestling.

Born in San Francisco in 1955, Steve Jobs co-founded Apple Computer in his parents' garage in 1976. He was instrumental in popularizing the Macintosh, introducing the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. After leaving Apple in 1985, he founded NeXT and acquired Pixar, transforming it into a leading animation studio. He returned to Apple in 1997 to rescue it from near bankruptcy and led it to unprecedented success. Jobs was known for his perfectionism, design focus, and keynote presentations. He passed away in 2011, leaving a lasting impact on technology, design, and popular culture.