Elton G. Kaminski was raised in Sidney. He graduated in 1943 from Sidney High School.
Mr. Kaminski joined the service like most of his male classmates. He served in Germany as a sergeant in the Army during World War II. Following his military service, he enrolled in Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio. He graduated in 1951 with a degree in mechanical engineering. Elton married his wife Jean Middleton in August 1950. They raised three daughters- Susan, Karin, and Tina.
After graduating from college, he was employed by the Stolle Corporation in Sidney as an engineer. He also continued his education and was certified as a professional engineer in 1957.
Kaminski’s father Herman was also an engineer at Stolle Corporation. He learned from his father’s counsel to “Keep it simple.”
Perhaps his biggest challenge as chief engineer at the Stolle came in 1962 and concerned the easy open pull tab. Ermal Fraze of Dayton originated the idea of a pull tab but he was unable to solve the problems associated with its mass production. Fraze approached Ralph Stolle, who in turn involved his trusted chief engineer.
Mr. Kaminski designed the tooling and machinery for an in-line transfer system to mass produce easy open pull tabs for aluminum beverage cans. His designs revolutionized the beverage industry and are still in use today. His daughters remember dad taking them past the plant after dinner to make sure the presses were running.
This masterful engineer and visionary was issued 15 patents directly related to the easy open pull tab. He also had 15 additional patents related to aluminum shutters, and in connection with the pull tab, product line transfer systems and can body machines.
Mr. Kaminski retired from the Stolle Corporation in 1992 as Senior Executive Vice President.
Over the years, he served the community through his involvement in various organizations and educational institutions. Kaminski served on the Sidney City Schools Citizens School Consulting Committee and was instrumental in developing the engineering curriculum at Edison Community College. He would often tell his daughters, “Education is something that no one can ever take away from you.”
Despite his numerous accomplishments and awards, Kaminski modeled humility and talked little of his achievements.
Mr. Kaminski was inducted in to the Sidney High School Hall of Honor in 2007 for his outstanding accomplishments. In 1992, he received the Francis C. Frary Award for a lifetime of outstanding individual contribution to Alcoa Technology and dedication to excellence.
Due to his creative nature, he enjoyed building model airplanes, stained glass lamps, painting and making improvements to the house he designed, built and lived in for the last 52 years with his loving wife, Jean.