The Zamboni family built the Iceland rink in California, and Frank Zamboni figured out how to eliminate rippling caused by the underneath pipes that were laid to keep the rink frozen. Patenting that idea, he invented a machine (which he also patented) that would resurface the ice in 15 minutes instead of the 90-minute/five-person job that it used to be. Zamboni did not foresee this revolutionizing the world of sports, but when orders came from former Olympic figure skater Sonja Henie ordered two and the Chicago Blackhawks ordered one, Zamboni patented the machine, and ice sports were forever changed.

Zamboni is a member of four different high-profile sports halls of fame and is our only nominee who was inducted to the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

We are proud to nominate Frank Zamboni for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.