By MEGHAN DURBAK
On what would be his 149th birthday, Nancy Kennedy and Kay Frazer just wanted to thank Elwood Haynes.
Both curators of the Elwood Haynes Museum, Kennedy and Frazer have benefited from more than the history of his inventions.
“We literally wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for his metals,” Kennedy said.
She was referring to the three hip replacements she received and the knee replacement Frazer received. Both surgeries used the stainless steel and Stellite alloys invented by Haynes.
A Kokomo resident for 35 years, Haynes greatest claim to fame is his invention of the car, which he called a “horseless carriage.”
To Frazer, Haynes was more than an inventor, he was a wonderful human being.
Frazer said when she first came to work at the museum 27 years ago, she was a caretaker who knew very little about Haynes or the automotive industry. She learned a great deal about Haynes through the letters he wrote to his wife and family.
“He was a highly energetic person, one of those people that practiced what he preached,” Frazer said. “I might have lost interest along the way if he hadn’t of been the person he was.”
During her time as the museum curator, Frazer grew to admire the man behind the inventions. In fact, she said it was Haynes’ character and moral fiber that helped him become a great inventor.
“It’s the givers that really make it in this world,” Frazer said.
She added, “For him success was all in what he could do and give, and that’s why today, he’s still celebrated.”
Haynes, who lived from 1857 to 1925, is celebrated for his invention of the first gasoline-powered automobile, which was ran July 4, 1894. He continued to improve his invention, later making the black Haynes Model L, which was available for $1,350 by 1905.
While continuing his work to improve car engines, Haynes came across Stellite, which is an alloy that wouldn’t melt down so quickly.
“It’s used for anything with high temperature,” Frazer said.
For instance, it’s used to make dental and surgical tools, nuclear powerplants, rockets, and the metal in Frazer’s artificial knee.
Frazer isn’t Haynes’ only fan. Many people came to celebrate Haynes’ birthday, including Taylor High School teacher Charles Short.
Short promised extra credit to his students who came on Sunday.
“[Haynes] was an important part of history in Kokomo,” Short said.
He wanted his students to “learn about [Haynes’] life and his inventions, and his work ethic.”
Jim Laird, the guest speaker from Haynes International, agreed.
“We owe a great deal of gratitude toward Elwood Haynes for the standard of living we all enjoy today,” Laird said.
