Steve Kordek
Born
Steven Francis Kordek

(1911-12-26)December 26, 1911
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedFebruary 19, 2012(2012-02-19) (aged 100)
Park Ridge, Illinois, U.S.
Resting placeSt. Adalbert Cemetery,
Niles, Illinois, U.S.
Known forPinball machine innovator
SpouseHarriet (Pieniazek) Kordek

Steve Francis Kordek (December 26, 1911 – February 19, 2012) was an American businessman of Polish descent who was best known for the design of the pinball machines.

Kordek is credited with designing over 100 pinball machines. The last game Kordek helped design was 2003's Vacation America.[1] Among the companies that Kordek designed for are Genco, Williams and Bally.

Kordek was credited with many innovations to pinball machines. He revised the pin game machines of the 1930s by putting two inward-facing flippers at the bottom of the playing field that were controlled by two buttons on the side of the machine.[1] Other innovations still used today are drop targets and multi-ball mode.

Kordek died on February 19, 2012, at age 100.[2]

Kordek can be seen at the age of 81 when the television show Wild Chicago toured the Williams factory in 1993

References

  1. ^ a b "Steve Kordek, a Pinball Innovator, Dies at 100". New York Times. February 23, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  2. ^ Montano, Nick (February 19, 2012). "Steve Kordek, A Pinball Legend, Dies At 100". Vending Times. Archived from the original on 2016-04-18. Retrieved 28 February 2023.


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