Graham Trippe was an American inventor and businessman based in the Chicago area. In 1922, he obtained a patent for a precision-focused automobile headlight known as the 'Trippe Speed Light,' which won gold medals at the 1928 and 1929 Paris Expositions of Innovation. This invention marked the beginning of Trippe Manufacturing Company, which he founded and owned, and which later evolved into Tripp Lite, a leading manufacturer of power protection, surge protection, and connectivity products. In the 1950s, he hired Barre Seid as an assistant, fostering a professional and mentorship relationship; Seid eventually succeeded Trippe as the company's leader, guiding its significant growth thereafter. Trippe's innovations laid the groundwork for the company's enduring legacy in power management solutions.