Awesome Iowan: Otto Frederick Rohwedder

Iowans are amazing people.  This is common knowledge to all Iowans.  But occasionally an Iowan comes along that is just too much of a gem to not mention.

Otto Frederick Rohwedder was born in Des Moines and raised in Davenport, thus establishing his Iowa roots.  You can read about the majority of his accomplishments at the above link, but the greatest thing he ever did was INVENT SLICED BREAD!

Mmmmmm...Tastes like innovation

This means that an Iowan established the standard item by which all other invented items are measured by.  Thus changing history for the better and furthering the greatness of our nation.

And if it's not impressive enough to you that he invented a machine to both slice and wrap bread, he was born on my birthday (July 7, put it in your calendars).  So we obviously have a special bond.  

Additional fun fact: The first commercial loaf of sliced bread was sold on my birthday in 1928.  July 7th should just be declared a national holiday right now.

Note from me: I need to thank my Uncle David and the book National Geographic's An Uncommon History of Common Things for the tip.  And I realize that the majority of this information comes from Wikipedia but this is a blog people, not a research paper, so we're just gonna take what we can get.

Update: My amazing Uncle David further supported the cause by sending me this link that provides even more information about sliced bread and it's famed inventor, Otto Frederick Rohwedder.  So now you know that I'm not making all of this up.  Thanks, David!