Roy Carver was an engineer, entrepreneur, pilot, and philanthropist whose bold ideas built global businesses. He co-founded Carver Pump Company during the Depression, supplying vital equipment to Allied ships in World War II. After discovering a tire-retreading process in Germany, he launched Bandag, which grew into an international leader. A world traveler and risk-taker, Carver also became one of Iowa’s most generous benefactors, funding education, health care, and the arts through lasting institutions and scholarships.

Louis Semple Clarke was an engineer, inventor, and co-founder of the Autocar Company. A quiet innovator, he introduced key advancements that shaped modern driving: porcelain spark plugs, left-hand steering, shaft drive, and circulating oil systems. Clarke’s engineering vision carried Autocar into truck manufacturing, making him an unsung pioneer of American automotive and trucking history.

Old Dominion Freight Line started in 1934 with Lillian Congdon’s $1,700 savings and a single truck hauling eggs from Norfolk to Richmond. After Earl Congdon Sr.’s passing in 1950, Lillian led the company through years of growth. From its modest beginnings, Old Dominion has stayed resilient and determined, marking 88 years in 2022.

Clessie Cummins, founder of the Cummins Engine Co., improved on and designed new diesel engines. Cummins also virtually eliminated brake failures in steep downhill travel with his engine compression-release brake—known today as the “Jake Brake”—that he designed and patented.