Ken N. Gidge

Kennith Gidge (born May 26, 1946) is an American politician, artist, and inventor serving as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from the Hillsborough District 33.[1]

Ken Gidge
Member of the
New Hampshire House of Representatives
from the Hillsborough 33rd district
Assumed office
2008
Personal details
Born (1946-05-26) May 26, 1946
Nashua, New Hampshire, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic

Early life

Gidge was born deaf in one ear. As a result, he had to repeat both the first and second grade. His partial deafness was not discovered until he reached third grade. His disability could not be improved with a hearing aid, so his teachers taught him to read lips. This skill helped him finish elementary school and complete his high school studies.

In the 1960s, Gidge moved to Boston to study acting and art. He supported himself by working as a bartender. He eventually quit his studies and returned to Nashua, New Hampshire.[2]

Career

In 1978, Gidge invented two energy saving devices, "Le Door" and "Le Frigidoor". These inventions were marketed nationally and internationally. During this period he became aware that inventions were regularly stolen and decided to try and stop this from happening, so he created a committee called the National Inventors Award Committee to honor inventors and inventions.[3] He hosted then-Vice President, George H. W. Bush and Barbara Bush to come to Nashua for the National Inventors Award Committee's event.[4][5][6]

Gidge was elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 2007. He took office in 2008.[7][8]

gollark: All languages are weird.
gollark: More like 701%.
gollark: One of the cool things about Iceland is that you can in fact wear sunglasses at times normally considered night, due to the weird day/night cycle.
gollark: I mean, dares are quite stupid anyway.
gollark: I'm quite scared of most dogs.

References
  1. Sherman, Steve. "Gidge's Gagets." New Hampshire Profiles Feb. 1987: p61,62, 63. Print
  2. Gidge, K. (2011, February 20) Profile. Fine Art America. Retrieved December 30, 2012 from http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/ken-gidge.html
  3. "Flight of the Gizmo." Nashua Telegraph 27 Dec. 1985, VOL 117, No.224 ed.: 1. http://www.telegraph.com. Web. 1 July 2012.
  4. Staff Writers. (1983, June 20, Vol. 19, No. 24). Foster Brothers Curtis Lawson and Lewis Barton Funnel Their Energy into Award-Winning Inventions. People.com. Retrieved December 30, 2012 from http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20085320,00.html
  5. "Nashua's youthful Inventors featured on national TV ." The Telegraph Video Showcase Friday - TV Chatter 26 Dec. 1983, local ed.: 1,2.Print.
  6. Smith, Robert G. "They're Award Winning Inventors- at ages 10 and 14." The National Enquirer 5 Apr. 1983: 38. hard copy. Web. 1 July 2012.
  7. "Kenneth Gidge". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
  8. Representative Kenneth Gidge (D)

Further reading
  • Bluementhal, Joel, " Water Winds, Wing Wheel Latest Invention In World of Nashua's Former Flagole siterr. June 28, 1985, 35th Annual State of New Hampshire Edition line news, 29 October 2011. Web. 14 June 2012.
  • Jones, Cynthia, Flagpole Champ, Restaurateur Adds Poetry to Latest Pursuits, Dec 23, 1976
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