Founder of Plantronics, a Florida native and Haitian missionary, dies at 88 (via Mercury News)

Keith Larkin, pilot and Plantronics pioneer, dead at 88

(Material abridged; from linked story)

Keith Larkin, a pilot who invented the lightweight headset that launched Plantronics 50 years ago, died on Sept. 28 while celebrating his 88th birthday. 

Born in Palatka, Fla., Mr. Larkin joined the Army Air Corps during World War II and became a B-17 flight instructor. He learned to fly the Globe Master and trained on the P-51 Mustang for air combat in Korea.

Larkin is well-known for starting Plantronics and later ACS Communications, a headset-maker in Scotts Valley, California. His son, Kevin, recalls his father as a man who invested in help for children in need.

“He moved to Florida so he could work with the Haitians,” his son said.

“He was fearless,” said his son, who worked in sales at ACS. “He told me ‘If somebody has already done something, it can’t be that hard.'”

He said his father could sketch out the idea for a product on a paper napkin and bring that product to market.

After selling his interests in ACS in the mid-’80s, Mr. Larkin devoted himself to Christian mission work in Haiti.

He and his wife moved to Florida where they bought a 1,000-ton ship to deliver food, medicine and supplies to the Caribbean. They donated that vessel to Mercy Ships, a Christian organization, then bought a Navy surplus barge to create a floating dental clinic to serve remote areas off the coast of Haiti. 

Read the complete story:  http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19032809   

- Jon O

Posted via email from Jon Osterholm :: WMBC :: posterous