I liked it when somebody struggled with something and I eventually came up with a solution
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Josef Šperka was born January 19, 1927 in Bratislava to Czech parents. His father was a shoemaker and his mother was a housewife. Josef actively pursued sports already as a little boy. He received his first skis from his teacher. In 1939 he moved with his parents to Zlín, where his father got a job in the Baťa factory. Josef completed the master level of Baťa School of Work. After completing basic military service he worked in the company Svit in Zlín. Josef became a respected designer of machines for production of shoes and gradually he also became an author of a number of technical proposals and many improvements. His machine for producing shoe heels was presented at industrial exhibitions in the United States as well as in Moscow and elsewhere. Josef continued to be active in skiing and he befriended members of the Czech Tourist Club. Later he established the first ski sports club TJ Gottwaldov with them and he served as one of its leaders. He is credited with the development of skiing all over the country, since his design of ski lifts with the reversible grip system was adopted by all ski centres that were being built at that time. In the 1970s he proposed the idea for artificial surface for all-year skiing in Zlín and he put it into practice. Josef is now retired and he strives to push ahead his own design of hinged road posts. Josef Šperka passed away on october, the 8th, 2018
