The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association has announced the inaugural class of inductees into the Illinois Manufacturing Hall of Fame, which recognizes the people, products and companies that have made a substantial and indelible impact on manufacturing in Illinois.
The inductees include Abraham Lincoln: The first and only U.S. President with a patent; Lincoln Logs; the cell phone; Cracker Jack; Caterpillar and the University of Illinois system.
Manufacturing is the largest contributor of any industry to the state’s Gross Domestic Product, supporting nearly a third of all jobs in Illinois and contributing more than $580 billion to the state’s economy each year.
