• Archive
  • Apply
  • About
  • Donate
  • Merch
instagramfacebook
← Back to 1988

A life of invention

by Lisa Durall
Stanley McClure, an 86 year-old inventor. Stanley at his old drafting table which he hasn’t used in over five years and his cat, “Cat”

Stanley McClure, an 86-year-old inventor, is the retired owner of Delta Machine Works Inc. The company still manufactures some of his inventions. His patents include one for a machine that implants reflectors into the center line of highways.

“The patent office is a bunch of boneheads drawing salaries. I never had any patents that amounted to anything,” McClure said. “I’d be better off if I never heard of the patent office.”

“He’s a genius, but he never cared about making money,” his son Willis said. Now McClure lives with his cat, Cat. His small, well-kept house is scattered with gadgets, rows of books, piles of newspapers and junk of all descriptions.

McClure’s most recent project is an anti-gravity device, which he says will help the space program. “If I ever had any good days, I’ve done seen them,” he said sadly, “They tell me that happens.”

Stanley McClure, an 86 year-old inventor. Here reading his Physics book in his living room.
Stanley McClure, an 86 year-old inventor. Stanley talks to one of the Landtron Oil owners on a visit up to Brushy Ridge where nine wells are located.
Stanley McClure, an 86 year-old inventor. Up on Brushy Ridge with the men of Landtron Oil Co.
Stanley McClure, an 86 year-old inventor. At the old family cemetery located on family land on Swan Pond Bottom.
Stanley McClure, an 86 year-old inventor. Stanley at his old drafting table which he hasn’t used in over five years and his cat, “Cat”
Stanley McClure, an 86 year-old inventor. Walking up to Buzzard Roost Point.
Jacob Campbell walks to his barn to do his daily chores early one fall morning.
76 year-old Willie Curtisinger displays some of the fruit he sells out of his truck along the major highways in the county.
Claud Atchley sitting on the side porch at his house on Rt. 379 (also known as Hell’s highway). He was thinking about mowing the lawn, but was letting the grass grow as he smoked his cigarette.
Kenneth Grider sits on his front porch with his son’s dog, Champ.

Join Us

Take part in next year's workshops in photography, video, & picture editing.

Learn More

Follow Along

Keep up with the Mountain Workshops throughout the year.

Have more info on a story or found an issue?

Contact Us

©2026 Mountain Workshops & Western Kentucky University ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Except as permitted by the copyright law applicable to you, you may not reproduce or communicate any of the content on this website, including files downloadable from this website, without the permission of the copyright owner.

Mountain Workshops Director
School of Media & Communication
1906 College Heights Blvd. #11070
Bowling Green, KY 42101
mountainworkshops@wku.edu

Fedex or UPS address:
1665 Normal Drive, Suite 216
Bowling Green, KY 42101

We educate and inspire visual storytellers and create a valuable cultural archive of Kentucky life.

This archive project is supported with funding from the America250 Grant and the Kentucky Historical Society.

The Mountain Workshops is an extension of the School of Media & Communication’s Visual Journalism and Photography program and is part of Potter College of Arts and Letters at Western Kentucky University.

We respect your privacy. Read our policy here.