O-Ring & Seal Hall of Fame, January 1, 2026
Hall of Fame → Historic Milestones
Celebrating Movers and Shakers Innovations
This is Harry Railton. I have been involved in the O-Ring and Seal supply chain for more than 6 decades. Over the years I have met or heard of many of the characters in the global growth of the business.
Compiling the O-Ring & Seal Hall of Fame has been quite a challenge but also very enjoyable. Should anyone have suggestions for further additions please send the name along with a brief bio – Harry@finnglobalsupply.com
O-Ring & Seal Hall of Fame
Honorees by alphabetical order
HONOREES
ASSOCIATION
LEGACY
Christensen, Neils A
Inventor of the O Ring - Patent
.
Feynman, Richard
Challenger Disaster Investigator
.
Adair, Gene
TechSyn USA
.
Aliota, Robert
Carolina Seal USA
.
Allen, Robert
Precision Rubber USA
Passed
Amin, Harry
Greene Tweed USA
.
Anderson, Phil
Anderson Seal USA
.
Apple, Peter
Apple Rubber USA
Passed
Apple, Steve
Apple Rubber USA
.
Applegate, Bill
Sealtite USA
Passed
Ashby, Dale
Parker Seal USA
.
Balkin, Dr
George Angus UK
Passed
Barner, Don
Buckeye Rubber USA
Passed
Barnes, Steve
Parker Seal USA
.
Barnett, Jerry
AllSeals USA
.
Barnwell, Mike
M Barnwell Services UK
.
Battenfield, Bill
Omni Pac USA
.
Battenfield, Lisa
Omni Pak USA
.
Bauer, Bill
Buckeye Rubber USA
.
Bauman, George
Great Lakes Rubber USA
.
Bauman, George JR
Great Lakes Rubber USA
.
Beil, Crag
Gallagher Seals USA
.
Belinsky, Chad
Marco USA
.
Belinsky, Leon
Marco USA
Passed
Bellini, Paolo
Artex Italy
.
Bencin, Don
Emco USA
Passed
Bergener, Adam
Parco USA
.
Bergener, Lou
Parco USA
.
Bhutta, Shafique
Crescent Japan
.
Blair, Tom
Rothkopf & Associates USA
.
Bodalski, Jim
Daemar USA
.
Bogart, Jim
National O Rings USA
Passed
Bond, Jim
HiTech Seals Canada
.
Bothwell, Steve
Specification Seal USA
.
Bourdelait, Alain
Le Joint Francais France
.
Bowman, Don
Parker Seal USA
.
Bowman, Ed
Southern Rubber USA
.
Boyer, Bill
Freudenberg USA
.
Brunson, Dick
Pneudraulics USA
Passed
Buetel, Mark
Columbia Industrial USA
.
Buetel, Tom
Oliver Penrod USA
.
Burfield, Ashley
Pacific Rubber USA
.
Burfield, Peter
Pacific Rubber USA
Passed
Busam, Frank
National O Rings USA
Passed
Campbell, Ron
Parco/Greene Tweed USA
.
Carinelli, G
Lanza Italy
.
Carrol, Jim
Precision Rubber USA
Passed
Catlin, Don
Buckeye Rubber USA
.
Catlin, Al
Buckeye Rubber USA
Passed
Cella, Dick
DuPont Kalrez USA
.
Chapin, Lee
SKF USA
.
Chastain, Dick
Seal Products USA
.
Chen, Chris
Tuico Vietnam
.
Chen, Gordon
Progum Taiwan
.
Chen, Mark
Tuico Taiwan
.
Chung, Clark
Fannteer Taiwan
.
Clark, Dwight
Jet Seal USA
.
Clem, Ron
Continental Seal USA
.
Coda, Emil
National O Rings USA
Passed
Colton, Paul
Stillman Seal USA
Passed
Conover, Charlie
CE Conover USA
Passed
Courtney, Sean
Eriks USA
.
Cummings, Peter
Precision Polymer UK
.
Cummins, Robert
Power Supply USA
.
Denny, Dean
Minnesota Rubber USA
.
Deppert, Craig
C & C Packing USA
.
Deppert, Curt
C & C Packing USA
.
Deppert, Pete
C & C Packing USA
Passed
DeRosa, Angelo
Sterling Seal USA
.
DeSpain, Bill
Global O Ring & Seal USA
.
DeVries, Don
DeVries International USA
.
Dommasch, Renate
BusaK + Luyken Germany
.
Dossi, Rudolfo
Lages Italy
.
Dowty, George
Dowty UK
Passed
Dygert, Ed
ES Dygert USA
Passed
Eriks, Arie
Eriks Holland
Passed
Everett, Malcolm
Precision Rubber USA
Passed
Eversole, Bob
American Seal USA
Passed
Faber, Klaus
Faber Industries Mexico
.
Falkenhagen, Paul
Valley Seal USA
Passed
Falkenhagen, Susan
Valley Seal USA
.
Fan, Charles
Fannteer NA USA
.
Fan, Frank
Escort Seal Taiwan
.
Fan, Robert
Fannteer Taiwan
Passed
Faulconer, Jerry
Seal & Packing USA
.
Fenton, Hugo
ISC Mexico
Passed
Ferris, Kevin
Royal Seal USA
.
Foltz, Bill
Conquest Seal USA
.
Foltz, Jess
Cal State Seal USA
Passed
Fontaines, George
Techne France
.
Fowler, Ron
Dowty USA
Passed
Freudenberg, Bertram
Freudenberg Germany
Passed
Frostad, Marty
The O Ring Store USA
.
Galanis, Terry Sr
Sealing Devices USA
Passed
Galanis, Terry Jr
Sealing Devices USA
Passed
Galanis-Miller, Elizabeth
Sealing Devices USA
.
Galizzi, Piero
GAPI Italy
Passed
Gallagher, Joe
Gallagher Seals USA
.
Gallagher, Walter B
Gallagher Seals USA
Passed
Gillette, Howard G
Precision Rubber USA
Passed
Ginsberg, Larry
AllSeals USA
.
Giorda, Patrick
EKK Eagle USA
.
Goetz, John
Alabama Seal USA
Passed
Goode, Larry
ES Dygert USA
.
Greenwood, Alan
Engineering Plastic NZ
Passed
Guenther, John
RF Carlson USA
.
Haddrick, Norman
ISC Canada
Passed
Hamada, Toshimi
Kyowa Seal Japan
Passed
Hamilton, Jeff
ESP USA
.
Hamilton, Richard
International Seal USA,
George Angus UK
George Angus UK
Passed
Hamilton, Ryan
ESP USA
.
Hansen, Bridget
Precision Associates USA
.
Hansen, Jennifer
Anderson Seal / Trelleborg USA
.
Harding, Bob
Stillman Seal USA
Passed
Hertz, Dan
Seals Eastern USA
Passed
Hertz, Daniel
Seals Eastern USA
.
Hirai, Migaku
Eiwa Japan
.
Hock, Julie
Nu Seals USA
Passed
Hoose, Robert
Robert Hoose USA
Passed
Hotovec, Brian
Quality Rubber Sourcing USA
.
Houlihan, Anne
Satori USA
.
Hsiao, Paul
Best Ring Taiwan
.
Hsiao, Steve
Best Ring Taiwan
.
Hsu, Benny
TTO Taiwan
.
Hudson, Rick
RL Hudson USA
.
Hudson, Wally
General Rubber USA
.
Hudspeth, John
International Seal USA
Passed
Jackson, Dan
Stillman Seal USA
.
Jalbert, Norm
J Royal USA
.
James, Dave
CDI USA
.
Jaspers, Jan
Eriks Holland
.
Jelinek, Jerry
Parker Seal USA
.
Johnson, Andrew
O Ring Sales USA
.
Johnson, Bill
Omni Pak USA
.
Johnson, Doug
O Ring Sales USA
.
Jones, Elmer
North West Seals
Passed
Jongebloet, Marcel
Europe Seals Holland
.
Kadue, Arnold
Precision Associates USA
.
Kadue, Paul
Precision Associates USA
.
Kasper, Ted
National O Rings USA
.
Keller, Bob
Freudenberg USA
.
Keller, Kurt
Parker Seal HKG
.
Kerns, Bobby
Pneudraulics USA
.
King, Mike
Martin Fluid Power USA
.
King, Ryan
Martin Fluid Power USA
.
Klemm, Ed
Buckeye Rubber USA
Passed
Koss, Marty
McMasters Koss USA
.
Krauth, Carl
ProSeals USA
.
Kuijl, Adrie
Europe Seals Holland
.
Lafter, Alfred
Freudenberg Germany
.
Lair, Paul
Engineered Seals USA
.
Lair, Verl
Verco USA
Passed
Lamen, Mario
Lanza Italy
Passed
Lanza, A
Lanza Italy
Passed
Law, Bob
Cal State Seal USA
Passed
Law, Mark
Cal State Seal/Comoso USA
.
Liao, Monica
GMORS Taiwan
.
Lin, Dada
Ivy Taiwan
.
Lin, Parker
Parjet Taiwan
.
Lin, Peter
PET Seals Taiwan
.
Logothetis, Andy
DuPont Kalrez USA
.
Luhrs, John
Markell USA
Passed
Lutz, Bill
Lutz Sales USA
.
Lutz, Dan
True Seals USA
.
Lutz, Mike
True Seals USA
.
Marvick, Lucy
International Seal USA
.
Marvick, Skip
International Seal UDA
.
Masuch, Christoph
Freudenberg Germany
Passed
Mattison, Jessica
Parco/Eriks USA
.
Maxwell, Brian
ISC UK
.
McClure, Claude
DuPont Kalrez USA
.
McCuistion, Tommy
Parker Seal USA
Passed
McDowell, Don
McDowell Company USA
Passed
McDowell, Nancy
McDowell Company USA
.
McDowell, Rusty
McDowell Company USA
.
McMasters, Bob
McMasters Koss USA
Passed
Miller, Kevin
ISC Australia
.
Moss, George
Moss Seal USA
.
Murray, Melissa
National O Rings USA
.
Napolitano, Bert
ISC East/Seneca USA
Passed
Nien, Henry
GMORS Taiwan
.
Ogran, Dennis
O Ring Sales USA
.
Paino, Jim
Process Technology USA
.
Paino, Phil
Greene Tweed USA
.
Panko, John
DuPont Kalrez USA
.
Parazini, Luigi
GITIS Italy
Passed
Parker, Pat
Parker Seal USA
Passed
Peck, Jerry
Dygert-Peck USA
Passed
Pelson, Dennis
National O Rings USA
Passed
Pfister, Greg
Du Pont Kalrez/Eriks USA
.
Pico, Alfredo
Lavel Gomma Italy
.
Pippert, Joel
Utex USA
.
Pirie, Bill
Daemar Canada
.
Poole, Tony
Dowty Malta
Passed
Purvis, Alexa
RE Purvis USA
.
Purvis, Bob
Precision Rubber USA
Passed
Purvis, Melinda
RE Purvis USA
.
Quinlin, John
National O Rings USA
Passed
Quinn, Gerry
Vulcan Engineering UK
.
Railton, Harry
International Seal USA,
Finn Global Supply
Finn Global Supply
.
Rassett, Scott
Anyseals USA
.
Ratcliff, Earl
Power Supply USA
Passed
Rattigan, Dan
DBR USA
Passed
Reach, Diane
ISC UK,
Eastern Seal UK
Eastern Seal UK
.
Reicks, Dennis
National O Rings USA
.
Reisig, Hari
California Sealing Devices USA
.
Rice, John
Transtec USA
.
Riley, Mark
Sealing Solutions USA
.
Rixham, Ian
GAPI UK
.
Robbins, Dick
Parker Seal USA
Passed
Robinson, Robbie
International Seal USA,
Eriks USA
Eriks USA
.
Roman, Val
Parker Seal USA,
Roman Seals USA
Roman Seals USA
.
Rothkopf, John
Rothkopf & Associates USA
Passed
Rothkopf, Mike
Rothkopf & Associates USA
.
Ryan, Bill
Parker Seal USA
Passed
Saxton, Jason
State Seal USA
.
Saxton, Roger
State Seal USA
Passed
Saxton, Roger Jr
Catalina Seal USA
.
Scanlan, Dave
High Performance Seals USA
.
Schappert, Charlie
Hydraulic Seals & Packing USA
Passed
Schoellkopf, Tom
Tobar USA
.
Scully, Dave
A P & G USA
Passed
Seyfert, Greg
California Seal & Fastener USA
.
Shafer, Ken
Parco USA,
Specification Seals USA
Specification Seals USA
.
Shahid, John
National O Rings USA
Passed
Shapiro, Steve
California Sealing Devices USA
.
Sharrett, Bill
Pacific Rubber / Darcoid USA
.
Shivers, Adrienne
AJR Seals USA
.
Short, Paul
Northern Engineering UK
.
Siviglia, Valentino
Valgomm Italy
Passed
Slutz, Dave
Precix USA
.
Smith, Frank
Bay Seal USA
Passed
Spence, Mike
Dowty Malta
.
Stafford, Jody
BlackHawk USA
.
Stewart, Frank
Parker Seal USA
.
Stiff, Alan
K C Seals Canada
.
Strike, Dave
Daemar Canada
.
Stroomer, Peter
Eriks Holland
.
Suh In, Haht
Roman Seal Korea
.
Susser, Artie
Seal Dynamics USA
.
Susser, David
Seal Dynamics USA
.
Swan, Bill
Parker Seal USA
Passed
Tobin, Pat
Real Seal USA
.
Tobin, Ray
Parker Seal USA,
Real Seal USA
Real Seal USA
Passed
Tosini, Franco
Tosini Seals Italy
Passed
Travers, Joe
Stillman Seal USA,
Parker Seal USA
Parker Seal USA
Passed
Turner, Chris
Fusion USA
.
Turpen, Frosty
Turpen & Associates/ESP
.
Underwood, Vince
ESP USA
.
VanDeStiege, Nick
Parker Seal USA
.
Van Oost, Marc
Eriks Belgium
Passed
VanCamp, Mike
Precison/SKF USA
.
Vernikovsky, Dalia
Greene Tweed USA
.
Vitali, GianLuigi
Artex Italy
Passed
Vroom, Russ
J Royal USA
.
Wagner, Erik
Dichtomatik Germany
.
Walker, Joe
Freudenberg USA
.
Weinberger, Bill
PSP USA
.
Whetsel, Gary
RF Carlson USA
.
Wilson, Patrick
Seneca Rubber USA
.
Wright, Bill
National O Rings USA
.
Wyatt, Doug
Wyatt Seal USA
.
Wyatt, Joseph
Wyatt Seal USA
Passed
Zatkoff, David
Zatkoff Seals & Packing USA
.
Zatkoff, Gary
Zatkoff Seals & Packing USA
.
Zatkoff, Roger
Zatkoff Seals & Packing USA
Passed
Zielinskii, Ron
Polymod USA
.
Zitting, Danny
Atlas Seal USA
.
Zitting, Gordon
Polyseal USA
Passed
Zitting, Ron
Polyseal USA
.
Zitting, Tommy
Atlas Seal USA
.
Historic Milestones
1896 — The First Ring-Shaped Seal Patent
J.O. Lundberg’s early design in Sweden laid the groundwork for the modern O-ring.
1933 — A Brilliant Idea Takes Shape
Niels Christensen starts experimenting with rubber rings for hydraulic systems — sparking the birth of the O-ring.
1939 — A Breakthrough in Sealing Technology
Christensen patented a simple, reliable O-ring geometry that became the foundation of modern sealing technology.
WWII — The O-Ring Takes Flight
WWII — O-Ring Goes to War: The U.S. government acquired Christensen’s patent, making it royalty-free for military use and accelerating its adoption in aircraft and defense.
Post World War II — A Seal Goes Global
After proving itself in military use, the O-ring spread across industries worldwide — saving millions in maintenance and repair.
1950's — A Global Standard Emerges
In the 1950’s, the ARP 568 standard was created. A universal system for O-ring dimensions, ensuring parts fit and function seamlessly across manufacturers. This nomenclature was later changed to AS568.
1986 — O-Rings in Space
O-rings have journeyed far beyond Earth, trusted in critical aerospace missions — from the Space Shuttle to the International Space Station.
Advancing O-ring performance
Engineers continue to advance O-ring technology by developing new materials such as FFKM and encapsulated designs. These innovations allow seals to withstand increasingly harsh chemicals, extreme temperatures, and demanding environments—ensuring reliable performance where it matters most.