Ralph Peo

Ralph Frederick Peo (May 3, 1897 – November 29, 1966) was an American inventor, engineer, business executive in the automobile industry, and the holder of 150 patents. He was founder of Frontier Industries in Buffalo, New York and was CEO of Houdaille Industries from 1955 to 1962 and chairman of the board from 1956 to 1964. A pioneer in the development of the automobile shock absorber, Peo invented the first thermostatically controlled shock absorber. He also invented one of the earliest air conditioners for use in automobiles.

Early life Peo was born in Rochester, New York, the oldest of three sons of Julien Frederick Peo and Flora (VanSchaick) Peo. The Peo family had come to America from France in 1832 and settled in Jefferson County, New York. The French spelling of the family surname was Peillot. His father encouraged him to work creatively with his hands. He had a workshop with many valuable tools in the basement of their home on Richard Street, Rochester. He attended Rochester Public School No. 15 and The Mechanics Institute of Rochester where he graduated in 1915 with a mechanical engineering degree.

Career After college, he went to Detroit, Michigan to gain experience in the automobile industry. He first worked for Packard Motor Car Corporation as a draftsman and purposely changed jobs every year for the next five years. He first moved to Dodge Brothers, then Oakland, Ford Motor Companies, and, finally, General Motors. His motto was "get it done".

After WWII, he resigned from Houdaille and formed Frontier Industries

By the end of 1961 Peo had developed Houdaille into a national business leader in the construction materials, automotive parts, and industrial tools & machinery industries with over $80 million in annual sales, over 60 business locations in the United States and Canada and 9,783 shareholders. Peo retired as CEO in 1962 and continued as Chairman of the Board until 1964, when he became Chairman Emeritus. They had one son, Jack Heath Peo (1919–1968).

Awards, honors and community activities 1955 University of Buffalo outstanding businessman of the Niagara Frontier 1957 Rochester Institute of Technology alumnus of the year Chairman of the Buffalo Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Patents Hydraulic Shock Absorber, Issued: November 11, 1930 Hydraulic Shock Absorber, Issued: March 31, 1931 Hydraulic Shock Absorber, Issued: April 5, 1932 Automobile Shock Absorber, Issued: October 11, 1932 Thermostatic valve for Shock Absorber, Issued: October 11, 1932 Joint for Automobile, Issued: October 11, 1932 Coupling for Moving Members, Issued: October 11, 1932 Sway prevention device, Issued: October 11, 1932 Hydraulic Shock Absorber, Issued: October 25, 1932 Shifting Device, Issued: April 25, 1933 Hydraulic Shock Absorber, Issued: May 23, 1933 Hydraulic Shock Absorber, Issued: August 1, 1933 Controller for Shock Absorbers, Issued: October 10, 1933 Hydraulic Shock Absorber, Issued: November 28, 1933 Method of Making Pistons for Shock Absorbers, Issued: December 26, 1933 Hydraulic Shock Absorber, Issued: June 19, 1934 Hydraulic Shock Absorber, Issued: June 11, 1935 Hydraulic Shock Absorber, Issued: June 11, 1935 Hydraulic Shock Absorber, Issued: June 11, 1935 Hydraulic Shock Absorber, Issued: June 11, 1935 Hydraulic Shock Absorber, Issued: June 18, 1935 Link, Issued: June 18, 1935 Hydraulic Shock Absorber, Issued: June 25, 1935 Thermostatic valve Structure for Hydraulic Shock Absorbers, Issued: June 25, 1935 Individual Wheel Suspension, Issued: November 5, 1935 Valve Mechanism, Issued: November 19, 1935 Hydraulic Shock Absorber, Issued: November 19, 1935 Hydraulic Shock Absorber, Issued: January 21, 1936 Link Assembly, Issued: April 7, 1936 Hydraulic Shock Absorber, Issued: April 21, 1936 Hydraulic Shock Absorber, Issued: April 21, 1936 Hydraulic Shock Absorber, Issued: April 28, 1936 Individual Wheel Suspension, Issued: April 28, 1936 Hydraulic Shock Absorber, Issued: April 28, 1936 Hydraulic Shock Absorber, Issued: June 9, 1936 Hydraulic Shock Absorber, Issued: June 9, 1936 Hydraulic Shock Absorber, Issued: September 15, 1936 Hydraulic Shock Absorber, Issued: September 15, 1936 Automatic Tire Inflation Attachment, Issued: September 29, 1936 Hydraulic Shock Absorber, Issued: December 8, 1936 Joint, Issued: January 5, 1937 Bearing Sleeve and Joint Assembly, Issued: April 20, 1937 Deflector for Automotive Vehicles, Issued: April 20, 1937 Thermostatic Valve Assembly, Issued: May 11, 1937 Valving Assembly for Hydraulic Shock Absorbers, Issued: July 6, 1937 Valving Assembly for Hydraulic Shock Absorbers, Issued: August 10, 1937 Valving Assembly for Hydraulic Shock Absorbers, Issued: August 10, 1937 Valving Assembly for Hydraulic Shock Absorbers, Issued: August 10, 1937 Link, Issued: August 24, 1937 Connecting Link, Issued: October 12, 1937 Valving Assembly for Hydraulic Shock Absorbers, Issued: October 19, 1937 Joint, Issued: October 19, 1937 Air Cooling Unit for Automobile Vehicles, Issued: November 16, 1937 Valving Assembly for Hydraulic Shock Absorbers, Issued: November 30, 1937 Governor Clutch, Issued: February 8, 1938 Automobile Air Conditioning System, Issued: May 3, 1938 Air Conditioning Evaporator, Issued: May 10, 1938 Link, Issued: July 5, 1938 Link Assembly, Issued: August 9, 1938 Oil Separator for Evaporators, Issued: December 6, 1938 Hydraulic Shock Absorber Valve Structure, Issued: December 13, 1938 Refrigerating System, Issued: June 13, 1939 Dry Ice Air Conditioning Unit for Vehicles, Issued: June 13, 1939 Dry Ice Air Conditioner, Issued: September 5, 1939 Hydraulic Shock Absorber, Issued: September 19, 1939 Air Conditioning System for Automobiles, Issued: November 21, 1939 Roof Mounted Air Conditioner, Issued: December 5, 1939 Link Assembly, Issued: December 26, 1939 Hydraulic Shock Absorber, Issued: March 19, 1940 Independent Wheel Suspension, Issued: June 4, 1940 Hydraulic Shock Absorber, Issued: September 23, 1941 Hydraulic Shock Absorber, Issued: November 4, 1941 Control Device for Refrigerating Systems, Issued: February 17, 1942 Thermostatic Bypass Valve, Issued: November 10, 1942