Charles Foley (inventor) facts for kids
Charles Foley (born September 6, 1930 – died July 1, 2013) was an American inventor. He is best known as the co-creator of the popular game Twister, which he invented with Neil W. Rabens.
The Story of Twister
Charles Foley helped create the game Twister. This fun game became a huge hit after it was shown on The Tonight Show in 1966. Famous TV host Johnny Carson and actress Eva Gabor played the game, and everyone loved it!
The game was first made by the Milton Bradley Company. Later, Hasbro took over making the game. Twister is still a favorite game for many families today.
Charles Foley's Early Life and Inventions
Charles Foley was born in Lafayette, Indiana. Even as a young boy, he loved to invent things. Before he was 10 years old, he created a special locking system for the cattle pen on his grandfather's farm. This showed his talent for inventing from a very young age!
He went to school through the eighth grade. As a young man, he worked as a salesman. He also served in the Michigan Air National Guard. Later, he worked on the assembly line at the Ford Motor Company. He then got a job at Lakeside Toys in Minneapolis. In 1962, he moved his family to Minnesota.
Charles Foley was a very busy inventor. He didn't just invent Twister! He created many other toys and games throughout his life. He had an amazing 97 inventions that were officially patented.
Later Life and Family
For many years, Charles Foley lived in North Carolina. In 2005, he moved back to Minnesota to be closer to his family. He passed away on July 1, 2013, at the age of 82. He was survived by his six sons, three daughters, and two brothers and two sisters.
