Frisbee Inventor Dies

You may not know Fred Morrison, but you know his work. Morrison, who died Tuesday at age 90, used his experience as a World War II fighter pilot to design the flying chunk of plastic we call a Frisbee. Originally labeled "Pluto Platter" and "Whirlo-Way" by Morrison, the flying saucers became a hit after he licensed them to Wham-O in 1957 and named them Frisbees. According to the Wall Street Journal, Morrison's fascination with the objects began at an early age, when as a teenager he would throw popcorn lids and cake pans on the beach in California. His invention eventually created new sports entirely, with ultimate frisbee an organized sport on many college campuses. "It is impossible to fathom the impact Fred Morrison has had on the world through the invention of such a simple object know as the Frisbee," Kevin Givens, executive director of the World Flying Disc Federation, told the Journal.