Designer Hall of Fame

Billy Woodman-ATC

Chris Russell-Bryston

Paul Grzybek of Tube Audio Design, of the famed TAD-1000, TAD-60, and TAD-150 among other great products including his signature Fisher restorations, has died. The world lost a great, talented, and kind person and the audio designing world is one less today for he left us on March 20, 2012. He was 48. He is dearly missed.

His obituary:

PAUL A. GRZYBEK

Paul A. Grzybek, 48, of Wheaton, passed away March 20, 2012, loving husband of Kathy, nee Huttenhoff; beloved son of Joseph and the late Anne Grzybek; dear brother of Maria Grzybek; fond uncle of many nieces and nephews. Visitation Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. at Williams-Kampp Funeral Home, 430 E. Roosevelt Rd. (one blk E. of Naperville Rd.), Wheaton. Funeral Mass Monday, 10 a.m. at St. Daniel the Prophet, 101 W. Loop Dr., Wheaton. Please meet at church. Interment Assumption Cemetery Wheaton. In lieu of flowers, donations appreciated to the charity of your choice in Paul's name. Info at www.williams-kampp.com or 630-668-0016.
Published in Chicago Tribune on March 23, 2012

Bob Carver would be on my short list

Manuel Huber-FM Acoustics

Additional info on Edgar Villchur mentioned in this thread who invented the worlds first moving piston acoustic suspension speaker in 1952 which allowed lower bass frequencies down to 35hz. His patents were issued up through 1957 but in 1958, his patents were challenged by an electronics company in Federal Court since one of the
parts in the acoustic suspension speaker belonged to this company and was not designed or manufactured by Acoustic Research. Vilchur's patents were denied. He got burned. He got so depressed that he left the speaker business and made a fortune designing and manufacturing hearing aids. His three remaining partner's in Acoustic Research, Kloss, Lowe, and Hoffman, took the first initial of their last names and founded K.L.H.