Polywater mourns passing of founder

American Polywater Corporation, provider of cable-pulling lubricants, recently announced the passing of the company's founder Nelson Jonnes. The company issued the following statement.

Nelson Jonnes, the inventor of Polywater Cable Pulling Lubricants, has died at the age of 85 after a long series of illnesses. Born the son, grandson, and great-grandson of physicians in Circleville, Ohio, Nels served in the U.S. Navy (1944 to 1947) and then graduated from Antioch College where he developed a life-long passion for science and education. As a teacher and inventor Nels went on to create 22 patents and led several entrepreneurial adventures, including his most successful: 38-year-old American Polywater.

Antioch president and Massachusetts legislator Horace Mann famously said: "Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity." Nels took this message from his alma mater seriously, and devoted his life to making the world a better place for his having been there. As friends, family, and employees will attest, Nelson Jonnes would have made Horace Mann very proud. He will be missed.

Nels founded his fledgling company with lofty growth goals and based it on two simple principles: 1) Use superior chemistry to develop products that solve problems. 2) Treat people fairly, including employees, agents, distributors, and customers. Nels sold his interest in American Polywater to current management in 1988, but later rejoined the company in an R&D consulting role, finally retiring in 2008 at age 81. He created products and a reputation to be proud of. The result transformed the industry and advanced cable installation technology immeasurably. Now employee-owned, American Polywater evolved with this foundation and continues to thrive.

Nels was an extraordinary fellow. His life experience reads like that of a fictional superhero: entrepreneur, author, philanthropist, orator, chairman, science teacher, mutual fund salesman, big game hunter, chemist, world traveler, Navy sonarman, physicist, Ethiopian "ambassador," athlete, inventor, historian, geologist, musician, philosopher, certified scuba instructor, great grandfather, and more. His advancing age was rarely a barrier. Nels won a bronze medal in table tennis at the Senior Olympics--at age 80. He left American Polywater and the industry with a fine legacy and ideals worth striving for.