Thomas J. Smrt
| Thomas J. Smrt | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 3, 1928 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation |
Inventor Entrepreneur Theme Park Operator |
| Known for |
Invention Horse Breeding theme parks |
| Home town | Marengo, Illinois |
Thomas J. Smrt is an American inventor, businessman and entrepreneur who is best known as the inventor of the upside-down aerosol spray paint can. He was previously the owner of Fox Valley Systems, a company that markets his spray paint applicators, however he sold the company to his sons in 2006. He is also known for breeding rare Shire horses (helping to increase their overall population from just 50 horses when he began), and for opening the short-lived Shireland theme park.
Early life
Smrt was born in 1928. His father died when he was 4 years old and he had several different stepfathers growing up. He did not advance past the 8th grade, however he went on to serve in the military and eventually become a self-made millionaire and businessman. Smrt later married Mary D. Rose and had four children, Thomas, Michael, Mary and John.
Inventions
Smrt's most notable invention is the upside-down aerosol spray paint can: a can of spray paint that can be applied while holding the can upside down (which is impossible with typical spray paint cans). This is widely used in municipal and highway applications for outlining parking lots, turn lanes, center lines, crosswalks, etc. They are also commonly used for painting hashmarks and lines on athletic fields. His patents date back to 1977 and include paint application devices, vacuum sealed packing materials,[1] geodesic domes,[2] and mechanical arms.[3]
Charity
Smrt is known for varied charitable donations. On one particular occasion, he called his local police department to ask if they needed anything.[4] When the officer answering the phone mentioned that they needed a new booking camera and some "first response" pocketknives (used to cut away seat belts from car accident victims), Smrt purchased the items and had them sent to the station. When one of his employees presented them to the police, he stated "Mr. Smrt would like other industries to follow his lead. So many departments go without some of the things they need. It makes him happy to return favors for all the work the department does."[4]
Horse breeding
Smrt owns Fox Valley Farms in Marengo, Illinois, where he breeds, shows and sells rare Shire horses. At one time, there were only 50 of this breed left in the world. Smrt took an interest in them, shipped some to his farm and began breeding them. By the mid 1980s, their numbers had increased significantly, to the point that he was able to donate 40 of the horses to the Caisson Unit of the United States Army (used for parades and demonstrations).
Fox Valley Farms was used as a filming location in the 1986 film Nothing in Common, starring Tom Hanks and Jackie Gleason. Smrt himself has a small role in the film as "Mr. Egan".
Shireland
On May 28, 1988, Smrt held the grand opening for a new shire horse-based theme park on Dietrich Road and Lake Street in Hampshire, Illinois.[5] The park covered 111 acres (0.45 km2) and contained a 68,000-square-foot (6,300 m2) circus tent as well as four 10,000-square-foot (930 m2) exhibit tents.[5] The concept centered on the horses, however it also incorporated traditional clown shows. It followed a medieval theme, with area names like "dragonwood" (a small forest which incorporated a tram ride, animatronic dragons, and "shire knights riding shire horses). At the end of the summer 1988, Shireland shut down for unspecified reasons and did not reopen until 1991. It was only open for a month in 1991, after which it closed permanently. The property sat mostly untouched for 15 years thereafter and became a popular place for urban exploration groups to take photographs. In June 2005, Smrt sold the property to a developer who began demolishing the existing buildings but had no specific plans to develop the property.[6]
References
- ↑ "Packing sheet and packages formed thereby". United States Patent Office. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
- ↑ "Geodesic dome". United States Patent Office. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
- ↑ "Animation method and device". United States Patent Office. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
- 1 2 Staff. "McHenry watch, law enforcement." McHenry County edition. Chicago Tribune, 1996.
- 1 2 Jack Schnedler. "New Illinois site showcases largest horses in the world." Chicago Sun-Times, May 15, 1988
- ↑ Josh Stockinger (2005-06-05). "Shireland property has new owner". Northwest Herald. Retrieved 2008-04-06.