Roger Adams Dies at 71; Invented the Rolling Sneakers Known as Heelys
The New York Times • • technology
Key Points:
- Roger Adams, inventor of Heelys—sneakers with embedded wheels—died on March 24 at age 71 from pancreatic cancer at his home in Glenbrook, Nevada.
- Adams, the son of roller-rink owners, created Heelys as a way to reinvent his career after feeling unfulfilled as a psychologist and case manager.
- The idea for Heelys came in 1998 during a vacation in Huntington Beach, California, where Adams was inspired by roller skaters and skateboarders on the boardwalk.
- He developed the prototype by modifying a sneaker with a rod and skateboard bearings, ultimately inventing shoes that could roll by shifting body weight.
- Adams' invention combined his tinkering skills and personal history with roller skating, leading to the popular brand Heelys.
