Ride-on lawnmower pioneer dies in Florida

The man who turned mowing the grass into a multimillion-dollar enterprise has died at the age of 87.

Cecil Pond, who pioneered the lawnmower tractor, died in Palm City in Florida, on 30 December, about 10 days after suddenly falling ill and being taken to hospital, his son Gary said.

Mr Pond and his father, Elmer, began making a small farm tractor in their garage in South Bend, Indiana, in 1946, and eventually designed a miniaturised tractor that people could ride to cut grass. Cecil came up with the idea of riding a lawnmower because he hated mowing the grass in the traditional way, his son said.

His company, Wheel Horse Products, made 22 attachments, including snow ploughs and ploughs for gardens.