July 7, 1971, around 3:00PM, the boogie board came into existence on the front lawn in front of "Honel's", Big Island, Hawaii.
This is about a week later, 'Ole #1 on right, sleeker version, #2 on left,
Air lubricated experimental screaming Precursor in right rear.A few months later in California

Happy Birthday, Boogie!
Well, I just happened to be the guy who had both the skill set and opportunity to 'doctor' her through the door' .
When I think of the huge impact it's had on the world, I'm stunned; the effects it's had on the millions of surfers who've spent billions of hours in the water, experiencing first hand with:
the environment
how to find, capture and utilize opportunity,
the healing benefits of sun, surf, sand, salt water and vigorous exercise.
Did the Boogie enable any personal fortunes, you might ask?
Well, Marchia and I got by on it for about 20 years, as long as we kept working at it.  Perhaps a couple of guys got to sit back while making big bucks, John Rosecrans [deceased] and John Bose whose company, Kransco, purchased the product line from us in the late '70s and ran it for some 17 years.
Have there been greedy short sighted people involved?
Greedy?  A few, but for the most part, those who make and work in this field are the cream.
Short sighted, yes, the dozens who were offered a place on the ground floor but instead  played it safe. Then too, numerous corporate executives who have only understood the name, while missing the essence.
Have there been saints?
Yes, Jim-I'd-rather-have-hope-than-money-Faivre, my first partner. [Now deceased]
To have known this guy was priceless; dearly missed promoter of good will,
That's Germain 'Jim' Faivre on the left, Roger Chou, of Chi Meng and his secretary,
my sweet Marchia and I in Taiwan, circa 1977
Other saints...?
Sure, Bob Mignogna, Surfing Magazine, who fronted us credit for the first ad.
Bobby Szabad, first real team playing, hard working, smart knowledgeable employee, plus plenty of Aloha spirit who was essentially running everything at age 20 when we were making 1000 boards/day. Bobby went on after the sale to Kransco to found BZ.. He and his brothers now make soft surfboards under various brands,
The guys unloading yet another truck load of foam... circa 1975
Rick Broderson, Bobby's buddy who was THE best worker we ever had.
Went on to bring new manufacturing techniques into existence with his own bodyboard company in New Zealand

Rick Lawrence, cool guy... sales manager. Rick kept insisting that we really ought to come up with some sort of a leash for this thing.
Next time the leash saves your bacon, think of Rick.
Patty Serrano, saint... who brought you all your competition events.
Craig Libuse, art and advertising monster.
Debbie Caldwell, generally dedicated quality minded steadfast soul who worked her way up from the bottom and now keeps the torch burning with her high quality brand, Custom X.
Louise Hullihen, factory mother.
Johnny Cash, who has sold more boogies [under one brand or another... and still at it] than any other living human.
And heros!
Then along came Jack Lindholm, the first real surf star on this thing.  Jack took our flexible skegless surfing device to Banzai Pipeline and, with no examples to follow, pioneered riding that monster wave, DROP KNEE, no less, including power cut backs off the soup!
Probably THE most important SURFER of his time.
But the star list expands from there too rapidly to mention more than just one, Mike Stewart, greatest champion and innovator of moves the sport has ever known.
Yes, when I think of how thousands of people have learned so many new crafting and surfing skills because of the boogie, how, hundreds of store owners stayed alive through winters, because of the boogie and boogie rentals through out the world, I am totally awed.
For... although you might think in terms of someone 'inventing' something, the fact is, there are, let's call them, 'Elemental Creatures', which, like the boogie, are born into the world when their time comes. Technology is their real Father, need their Mother. Guys like me, their nurse maid.
Is it still possible today, to come up with something better which the world will embrace? Well, I for one continue to think,YES, under construction http://www.tommorey.com/
Whatever YOUR idea is, go for it! Sure, launching one of this 'babies', then keeping it afloat is a tough wave to ride, but way better than 'a real job'.
Alooooooooooha,
Tom