H. Harold MacNeill, Inventor, Founder Of MacNeill Engineering/Champ Spikes 1907- 2007
Harold MacNeill, founder of MacNeill Engineering/ CHAMP Spikes died after a brief illness Friday January, 5, 2007, surrounded by his family and friends.
Mr MacNeill, a pioneer in the golf industry, started his business in the basement of his home in Waltham, with his father, in 1931. Their first product was perforating tubes for the shoe trade During World War II, like many other companies MacNeill Engineering converted its production resources to aid the war effort and earned four Army Navy "E" awards for excellence in manufacturing.
After the war MacNeill Engineering used its automation, machinery and manufacturing expertise to transition from private label manufacturing of shoe components to its proprietary line of golf spikes. After successfully designing and manufacturing a series of golf ball testing machines for Wilson Sporting Goods, MacNeill entered the golf industry full time.
MacNeill Engineering/ CHAMP Spikes, under the direction of Harold MacNeill, is responsible for several key innovations in the golf spike industry: The Sure-Lok replaceable spike in 1947, the Lite-Wate spike in 1958 which introduced injection molding capability, and broadened the company’s horizons to encompass all sports that utilize cleated shoes such as, football, soccer, baseball, rugby, lacrosse, cricket and track and field. MacNeill spikes have been used by the champions of all major sporting events, from the Olympics to The Super Bowl, The World Cup and The World Series. Major manufacturers such as Nike, Reebok, Adidas, Asics, Puma, Ecco and Footjoy have all benefited from MacNeill hardware and technology. As a result of the worldwide demand, Mr. MacNeill expanded his company into a global enterprise by establishing headquarters in Marlborough, Massachusetts and adding offices in England, Hong Kong and Japan.
The CHAMP name actually came as a result of Harold MacNeill’s friendship with golf legend Byron Nelson. Nelson was one of the first professional golfers to trumpet the benefits of the MacNeill Engineering made spike. Looking for a more suitable and marketable name, Harold asked his friend Byron Nelson, whose nickname was Champ, what to call the brand. Thus the brand name was born.
While MacNeill Engineering went on to produce spikes in track, baseball, and other sports, it made its mark on the feet of golfers worldwide.
MacNeill and CHAMP pioneered the first soft golf spikes in 1988, well ahead of the rest of the industry and continued to add to its accomplishments with the creation of the Scorpion Stingerâ?¢ in 2002, the first visible wear indicator golf spike that shows golfers when it’s time to change spikes.
Mr. MacNeill is survived by his wife of 58 years, Lina, 93, 3 daughters, Madeleine Sifantus of Wayland, MA , Bonnie Catto of South Hadley, MA Heather White of Frederickburg, VA, and son, current president of MacNeill Engineering/ CHAMP Spikes, Harris MacNeill of Northborough, MA, 9 grandsons, 2 great grandsons and one great grand daughter.
Funeral services will be Thursday, January 11, 2007. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Golden Tones Inc, a senior citizen singing group, founded by Harold MacNeill 20 years ago.
Golden Tones Inc.
41 Cochituate Road
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