Philo T. Farnsworth

Farnsworth and his team produced the first all-electronic TV picture on 7 September, 1927. At 14, while plowing on the family farm, he was inspired by looking at the harrow lines in the field he had just completed. From there, the concept developed of magnetically deflecting electrons in rows across a screen to create an image. He told his first serious girlfriend about this idea, and she responded by promptly dumping him. After regaining his confidence, he took another girl, Elma (who he eventually married) on a horseback ride to the nearby Bridal Veil Falls, where he again confided his concept of electronic imagery. Elma expressed her belief in him and offered to assist in any way. And she did, by doing laboratory work and keeping Philo's patent books current.