John Francis Humphrey
John Francis Humphrey | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 10, 1919 |
| Died | April 15, 2012 (aged 92) |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Occupations | Skateboard designer navy pilot |
| Years active | 1963-2012 |
| Known for | First licensee of a skateboard patent |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross Inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame (2012) |
John Francis Humphrey (October 10, 1919 – April 15, 2012) was an American businessman and World War II pilot.
Early life
Humphrey was born October 10, 1919 in Waterbury, Connecticut, and enlisted as a naval aviator in 1941.[1]
In 1944, he was awarded the U.S. Navy’s Distinguished Flying Cross after shooting down a Japanese plane whilst piloting a B-24.[2]
Skateboarding
In 1963, he became the first licensee of a skateboard patent.[3] He joined inventor Albert C. Boydon, whom had previously patented the Child’s Coaster, and the pair began marketing the Humco Surfer.[4]
In 2012 he was inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame.[5][6]
He died April 15, 2012, in San Diego, California.[7]
References
- ↑ "Biography". John F. Humphrey 1919-2012. 2012-05-13. Retrieved 2026-05-04.
- ↑ Schwartz, David Asa (2021-06-14). Modern Sports around the World: History, Geography, and Sociology. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN 979-8-216-11880-0.
- ↑ Berkmoes, Ryan Ver; Averbuck, Alexis; Mularz, Amelia; Tremaine, Julie; Yanagihara, Wendy (2026). Lonely Planet Los Angeles & Southern California. Lonely Planet. ISBN 9789990083965.
- ↑ Bouvant, Morgan; Carayol, Sébastien (2025-11-11). Skateboard Culture: Skateboarding from the 1970s to Today. Random House. ISBN 978-0-593-83949-2.
- ↑ Todd (2020-04-19). "John Humphrey SHoF 2012". Skateboarding Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved 2026-05-04.
- ↑ Pinto, Luís M. "The list of Skateboarding Hall of Fame inductees". Surfertoday. Retrieved 2026-05-04.
- ↑ "JOHN HUMPHREY Obituary (2012) - San Diego, CA - San Diego Union-Tribune". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2026-05-04.