In 1912, the European scientist Klattes had discovered that hydrochloric acid combined with acetylene gives vinyl chloride. Another European, Ostromislenski, in the same year patented the production of a rubber-like material from vinyl chloride....

AKRON--In a full century of life, Waldo Semon had the right amount of genius, perseverance and luck to earn nearly 120 U.S. patents. The prolific rubber industry engineer invented vinyl--the second most used plastic to this day--and bubble gum, which means he...

Watching people's faces as they leave T he Sandler Center for the Performing Arts energizes David Semon. Couple an audience's satisfied expressions with a satisfied performer, and it makes up for the 15- to 20-hour days he sometimes works. "I spend quite...