Inspirational character

Im blown away by the fact that a number of the UK fellows of the Kauffman Foundation (entrepreneurial centre) http://www.kauffman.org/items.cfm?itemID=697 that im fortunate enough to be in touch with (having sat on a panel for them at Imperial College), they have all mention Dean Kaman when emailing me from the States, he obviously made a huge impression on them and they have met many of the best from business and places like Harvard while out there.

Dean is recently well known for the SEGWAY but i personally never knew how prolific an inventor, entrepreneur and all round great mind that he is till i heard from the students and checked the web, he's definately worth reading about:

http://www.dekaresearch.com/aboutDean.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Kamen

He's added to the world and to peoples lives from medical devices to solving water supply problems in the 3rd world!

Just look at his list of patents http://www.patentstorm.us/inventors/Dean_L__Kamen-701867.html/

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/9
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/8.09/kamen.html?pg=1&topic=&topic_set=

Ive picked up on Dean here just because Im so impressed by these UK student-entrepreneurs who have gone off to the Kauffman foundation as fellows, http://www.kauffman.org they are great guys and have a fantastic opportunity now, they were inspired when they met Dean. Its because of them that i looked into Dean, Im glad i did, he is an inspiration.

Do please tell me of your inspirational entrepreneurs, inventors and leaders.