Dane Scag died Aug. 9 at the age of 94.
With more than two dozen patents, he is most recalled as an innovator and inventor to the Green Industry. He contributed, among other pieces, the three-wheel mowing tractor, Scag dual-drive hydro walk mower and Great Dane Surfer.
Scag left more than equipment to the industry, though. He also left his mark on several companies.
While in ownership of Wisconsin Marine, he created the Bob Cat brand. He founded Scag Power Equipment in 1983 and launched Great Dane Power Equipment in 1996, which he sold to John Deere in 2000.
An aviation enthusiast, Scag was also a pilot and airplane owner—he frequently flew to his customers to demonstrate mowers.
Scag earned a bachelor’s degree in physics and mathematics from North Central College , where he established a scholarship and donated his Colorado home and 75 acres to, according to the college’s website. He went on to complete a master’s degree in physics from the University of Illinois and joined the teaching and research staff at Princeton University before accepting a position with Milwaukee-based manufacturing company Allis-Chalmers. There, he designed high-energy X-ray machines with military applications. He was then named vice president of research at McGraw-Edison Co., where he first got his hands on commercial lawn mowers.
