Donald Weder
inventor
- September 22, 2026
- 79 years
About Donald Weder
Donald Weder, 79, American inventor and businessman.
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60 Seconds Life Story
Donald Weder was a prolific American inventor who forever changed the floristry and packaging industries.
Donald Weder
1947 – 2026
60 Seconds: Donald Weder's Life Story
A look at the life and prolific patent career of American inventor and businessman Donald Weder.
Transcript
Donald Weder was a prolific American inventor who forever changed the floristry and packaging industries. Born in 1947, Weder graduated from Bradley University before taking the helm of his family's business, Highland Supply Corporation, in 1977. Under his leadership, the company expanded significantly to offer thousands of products for floriculture. Weder is perhaps best remembered for his ingenious inventions, including the hinged plastic Easter egg, durable Easter grass, and specialized decorative florist foil. His dedication to innovation led to him holding over 1,400 United States patents by 2019. In 2002, he was honored with the Thomas Edison Award for becoming the most prolific American patent holder in history. Donald Weder passed away on September 22, 2026, at the age of 79, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of creativity.
Play the illustrated life story above, or read the full biography on this page.
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Full Biography
|Donald Weder (September 18, 1947 – September 22, 2026) was an American inventor and businessman. As of February 6, 2013, Weder held 984 utility patents and 413 design patents for a total of 1,397 US patents, which had increased to 1,413 by April 17, 2019. His most famous inventions include the hinged plastic Easter egg, a process for making plastic Easter grass, and decorative florist foil packaging.
Background
Weder was a resident of Highland, Illinois. Weder graduated summa cum laude from Bradley University, and was a member of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. He died in Deck's Praire, Illinois, on September 22, 2026, at the age of 79.
Highland Supply Corporation
From 1977, Weder was the President of Highland Supply Corporation or "HSC". HSC was founded in 1937 by Donald Weder's father, Erwin Weder, to make corsage containers, and was substantially expanded by Donald Weder [citation needed]. HSC is now offering over 12,000 products for the floriculture industry. Highland Supply Corporation was recognized by Design for the Environment (United States Environmental Protection Agency partnership program) for its commitment to environmental safety. Over the past three decades, Highland Supply claims to have planted well over 100,000 trees at various sites and preserved over 1000 acres [conversion required] of timberland. [citation needed]
Patents
As of February 6, 2013, Weder held 984 utility patents and 413 design patents for a total of 1397 US patents. By April 17, 2019, this had increased to 1,413 total patents.
Weder's patents are mostly related to the floristry industry, although in recent years as his sons Erwin and Andrew increasingly handle business affairs, Weder has turned to other technologies and industries, as well. [citation needed]
His patents are owned by the Weder Family Trust, an offshore asset protection trust of which his sister Wanda Weder (who is also Senior Executive Vice President of Highland Supply Corporation) is trustee. This trust is administered by Southpac Trusts Limited.
Awards and recognitions
Weder was honored by civic, inventor and floral industry organizations for his philanthropy as well as his inventorship.
- Thomas Edison award from the US Patent Office in August 2002 for having passed Edison on August 6, 2002 to become the No. 1 most prolific American US patent holder (2002) [citation needed]
- 1st recipient of the "Donald E Weder Inventor of the Year Award" by the Illinois Innovators and Inventors, Inc. (2002) [citation needed]
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Weder
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 27, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 28, 2026
- Sep 27, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Donald Weder's archived record and the sources above.
1.What is the role of Wanda Weder at Highland Supply Corporation?
- A.Chief Financial Officer
- B.Senior Executive Vice Presidentcorrect
- C.Lead Inventor
- D.President
Wanda Weder is the Senior Executive Vice President of Highland Supply Corporation.
Source: patents section
2.In what year did Donald Weder become the President of Highland Supply Corporation?
- A.1937
- B.2002
- C.2013
- D.1977correct
Donald Weder was the President of Highland Supply Corporation from 1977.
Source: Highland Supply Corporation section
3.Which entity administers the Weder Family Trust?
- A.The US Patent Office
- B.Bradley University
- C.Southpac Trusts Limitedcorrect
- D.Highland Supply Corporation
The Weder Family Trust is administered by Southpac Trusts Limited.
Source: patents section
4.What product was Highland Supply Corporation originally founded to manufacture?
- A.Florist foil
- B.Corsage containerscorrect
- C.Easter grass
- D.Plastic hinges
Highland Supply Corporation was founded to make corsage containers.
Source: Highland Supply Corporation section
5.What was the name of the award Donald Weder received from Illinois Innovators and Inventors, Inc. in 2002?
- A.The Edison Excellence Award
- B.The Lifetime Achievement Award
- C.The Floriculture Innovation Prize
- D.The Donald E Weder Inventor of the Year Awardcorrect
Donald Weder was the first recipient of the Donald E Weder Inventor of the Year Award.
Source: awards and recognitions section
6.What was Donald Weder's age when he died?
- A.82
- B.75
- C.79correct
- D.72
Donald Weder died on September 22, 2026, at the age of 79.
Source: background section
7.Which family members increasingly handled business affairs for Donald Weder in recent years?
- A.His sons Erwin and Andrewcorrect
- B.His parents
- C.His sisters
- D.His cousins
In recent years, his sons Erwin and Andrew increasingly handled business affairs.
Source: patents section
8.How many products does Highland Supply Corporation offer for the floriculture industry?
- A.Over 1,000
- B.Over 12,000correct
- C.Over 100,000
- D.Over 5,000
Highland Supply Corporation offers over 12,000 products for the floriculture industry.
Source: Highland Supply Corporation section
9.What is the primary industry related to most of Donald Weder's patents?
- A.Agriculture
- B.Floristrycorrect
- C.Computing
- D.Automotive
Donald Weder's patents are mostly related to the floristry industry.
Source: patents section
10.On what date was Donald Weder born?
- A.September 18, 1947correct
- B.April 17, 2019
- C.February 6, 2013
- D.September 22, 2026
The biography states that Donald Weder was born on September 18, 1947.
Source: biography introduction
11.Where did Donald Weder pass away?
- A.Deck's Praire, Illinoiscorrect
- B.St. Louis, Missouri
- C.Chicago, Illinois
- D.Highland, Illinois
Donald Weder died in Deck's Praire, Illinois, on September 22, 2026.
Source: background section
12.Which university did Donald Weder graduate from summa cum laude?
- A.University of Illinois
- B.Highland College
- C.Bradley Universitycorrect
- D.Harvard University
Donald Weder graduated summa cum laude from Bradley University.
Source: background section
13.Which organization honored Donald Weder with an award for passing Thomas Edison as the most prolific American US patent holder?
- A.Illinois Innovators and Inventors, Inc.
- B.Design for the Environment
- C.The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi
- D.The US Patent Officecorrect
Donald Weder received the Thomas Edison award from the US Patent Office in August 2002.
Source: awards and recognitions section
14.What is one of Donald Weder's most famous inventions?
- A.The plastic drinking straw
- B.The electronic pricing tag
- C.The floral foam brick
- D.The hinged plastic Easter eggcorrect
The biography lists the hinged plastic Easter egg as one of Donald Weder's most famous inventions.
Source: biography introduction
15.Who founded the Highland Supply Corporation in 1937?
- A.Donald Weder
- B.Andrew Weder
- C.Erwin Wedercorrect
- D.Wanda Weder
Highland Supply Corporation was founded in 1937 by Donald Weder's father, Erwin Weder.
Source: Highland Supply Corporation section
16.How many total US patents did Donald Weder hold as of April 17, 2019?
- A.1,397
- B.984
- C.413
- D.1,413correct
Donald Weder held 1,413 total US patents by April 17, 2019.
Source: patents section
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