Gene “Father Dry” Peet. Photo courtesy of Peet Shoe Dryer Corp.
Some people follow circuitous routes, working many jobs before they find their path.
Meet Mr. Gene Peet—born on March 13, 1928 to Bill and Loretta (Murray) Peet in Sandpoint, ID. The family moved to St. Maries, ID in 1930. Where, at age 14, he worked as a truck driver and heavy equipment operator. Furthering his repertoire, he also worked as a powder man (explosives). By his senior year of high school, he included working at a local sawmill to his growing resume.
Following high school, from 1947 to 1950, Gene did construction work, and timber harvesting, while he attended Gonzaga University—where he studied mechanical engineering.
In December of 1950, Gene enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served until his honorable discharge in 1953. From there, Gene worked as chief electrician for the St. Maries Lumber Co..
In 1955 he started Peet Electric, doing mill maintenance, construction, and electrical design work. Not one to rest on his laurels, he added licensed electrician, electrical contractor, and plumbing contractor to his growing list.
But wait there’s more.
Gene also owned an appliance and television sales and service store. At the time, no one could get television reception in the area. To sell his merchandise, he formed Benewah Cable Co. Inc. in 1957. He designed and built the St. Maries cable system, which became operational in 1959. He brought cable television to St. Maries before New York City had it.
In 1960, Gene lived in Moses Lake , WA then moved to Tucson, AZ working for the Martin Co. on the Titan II missile silo’s in order to raise capital for his cable company and other ventures. It was during this time when he worked in the desert heat in Tucson, he dealt with the constant wetness in his boots caused by—you guessed it—sweat.
Mr. Peet possessed the proverbial inventor’s itchy feet. He received a patent on the Peet Shoe Dryer in 1968 and the following year started the prototype in the test market.
When asked what inspired him to invent the Peet Shoe Dryer, he said, “Having wet boots all the time is really tough on you and your boots. Back then there just wasn’t a good way to dry out your boots before you had to put them on again.”
In 1972, he helped form the Idaho Cable Television Association and served on the Board of Directors. He sold the cable business in 1984 to concentrate on the Peet Shoe Dryer Company. Earning him the nickname, “Father Dry.”
According to the Peet Shoe Dryer’s website: “We hear a lot from guys who now are allowed to bring their boots in the house instead of them being banished by their wives to the garage or back porch because they stunk so bad.”
Gene never truly retired. He was President of the Peet Shoe Dryer Corp. at the time of his death on March 6, 2013.
So, my friends, the moral of the story is no matter where life takes you, whether you’re a lumber jack, miner, hunter, or hiker, when you have wet boots, follow Father Dry’s example and beat it over to Peet. No one wants to smell stinky feet. 😉
Wow – a true Renaissance man! He sounds like my kind of guy! Better get my hands (or feet) on a Peet Shoe Dryer. And great “itchy feet” line there 🙂
Thanks Dave. He was an amazing man. I’ve always admired people who follow their passion and have the tenacity to see it through.
My blurb subroutine is disabled at the moment, but I gotta say you didn’t miss a beat writing about Pete and the dry feet! It was a neat feat!
Teeheehee. I see what you did there!
Yeah, that was pretty magnificent!
Now for someone who’s blurb subroutine is disabled, you certainly know how to think on you feet. 😉
Never an end to the amazing information you bring your reader. Oh and great names too..
Thanks! We never know what little gems we might discover when searching for great names.
… and here I was feeling good about getting myself out of the house this morning with matching socks and an almost halfway charged cell phone. I suspect Gene would consider me something of a slacker 🙂 Great post as always Fannie!
Some people are born over achievers, I myself am happy when my socks match and I’ve remembered to charge my cell phone. 🙂
Bahahaha – see, this is why we’re friends !!!
it’s as if he’s been alive for 300 years
Oh my goodness, maybe he’s one of those sparkly fellows?
LOL!
Gene Peet. That’s fun to say. You know, I never thought about who invented the shoe drying machine (maybe because I didn’t know it was a thing), but now I know. It was a guy named Gene Peet. Awesome.
Haha, it’s amazing what a day will bring 🙂
And for all the times I took my boots apart and spread them around the furnace vents, I should have met Gene Peet sooner. 🙂
who knew? And to think I’ve made it this far in life without knowing about this guy. Thanks for the introduction, Miss Fannie 😀 Wherever did you find this man? Love the folks who just keep doing their thing solely for the sake of doing their thing. (bahahaha–just saw that I made a shoe pun 😉 )
Liz-your shoe pun is brilliant. I discovered Mr. Peet when one of my acquaintances introduced me to his invention. I simply couldn’t resist writing about him.
Reblogged this on Fannie Cranium's and commented:
Meet Father Dry, this month’s contribution to the Blog of Funny Names. Enjoy.