Yahoo Autos Ralph R. Teetor: Blind Automotive Engineer
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Learn about the man who invented cruise control and so much more…
In many lists of little-known automotive historical facts is often included a tidbit about the engineer who invented cruise control was actually blind. Yeah, that seems pretty incredible, but that’s where the info about Ralph R. Teetor begins and ends for most. That’s sad, because the life Teetor lived was inspirational and rich as he left an indelible mark on the automotive industry which extended far beyond just the creation of cruise control.
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Teetor wasn’t born blind. Instead, he spent part of his childhood in Victorian rural Indiana with the full use of all his senses. However, an accident with a knife at the age of five left him completely blind. His deeply religious parents didn’t allow Ralph to feel sorry for himself, an attitude he adopted himself. Pulling himself up by his bootstraps, the boy learned to do what everyone else who could see did, including driving a car and attending college. There was no shortage of doubters, although they were quickly won over once they saw Teetor in action.
From a young age, Ralph had an intense interest in the work his father and uncles performed as they created maintenance cars for the railroad lines. He learned to work lathes, grinders, and other dangerous machines in the shop without serious injury. In fact, after a while many of the men remarked how the blind boy was more proficient with their tools of trade than them.
