AKA George A. Stephen

Born: c. 1921
Birthplace: Palatine, IL
Died: 11-Feb-1993
Location of death: Kildeer, IL
Cause of death: Cancer - unspecified

Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Business, Inventor

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: Weber kettle grill

George Stephen worked at a metal shop, Weber Brothers Metal Works, and like many American suburbanites he grilled in his back yard on summer weekends. Growing frustrated with open-air grills, he hinged together two metallic half-spheres (used by Weber Brothers to make lake buoys) and punctured the upper half-sphere to create air vents (allowing the flame, smoke, and air circulation to be controlled by the chef), and invented what came to be known as the Weber kettle grill. Originally sold as George's Barbecue Kettle, the domed-covered Weber kettles became Weber Brothers' best-selling product, and in 1958 Stephen bought the company, which he subsequently renamed Weber-Stephen. He had a dozen children and a strong aversion against personal publicity, so next to nothing beyond these basics is known of Stephen's life. He died in 1993, and his Weber-Stephen Product Company remains family owned.

Wife: Margaret Stephen ("Marge")
Daughter: Barbara Stephen Rapp
Daughter: Deborah Stephen
Son: George Stephen, Jr.
Son: James Stephen
Daughter: Janet Stephen
Son: Jeffrey Stephen
Son: Kenneth Stephen
Daughter: Margaret Stephen
Daughter: Maryl Stephen Weskamp
Son: Robert Stephen
Daughter: Virginia Stephen
Son: William Stephen

    Weber-Stephen Product Company President (1958-93)
    Weber Brothers Metal Works Metal worker (1940-58)

Do you know something we don't?
Submit a correction or make a comment about this profile

Copyright ©2019 Soylent Communications