Curt Hooker passed away recently. Auto editors, not to mention the aftermarket, will instantly know the name, but it wasn't wide spread among enthusiasts. If you purchased an Edelbrock product, it had Curt's influence.
Starting as a shop janitor, it's no surprise he was fascinated by engines, which led him to investigate the dyno room whenever he could. In his 50 year Edelbrock career, he became the head of engine testing and dyno room operations. He had hands-on experince developing and testing Edelbrock products, not to mention scores of engine projects from street to race. It's a testament to his character that he had a sterling reputation for being genuinely nice to work with.
He was one of the greatest names in hot rodding.