Entrepreneur, innovator Lewis 'Bud' Harmon dead at 90

Lewis 'Bud' Harmon

The inventor of "Gobs of Glob," "Sizzle Seeds" and "Cinnamon Toothpicks," Lewis "Bud" Harmon of McCook, died Tuesday at Community Hospital of McCook. He was 90 years old.

Harmon was a 1936 graduate of McCook Senior High, who, with his wife, Betty, owned two neighborhood grocery stores in McCook and operated a 24-hour restaurant in downtown McCook during World War II. When wartime shortages made certain items hard to get, Bud developed and manufactured his own detergents, salad dressings, syrups, pie fillings and biscuit and pancake mixes. "Harmon's Restaurant Supply Co." sold these items, along with South Dakota bison meat, to businesses within a 150-mile radius of McCook.

Harmon developed and ultimately marketed "Gobs of Glob" -- similar to "Gummy" candies -- when his daughter wanted a treat to take to school, and flavored-wheat "Sizzle Seeds" when customers wanted a healthy snack.

Harmon and his "Harmon's Grain Products Inc." developed, packaged, marketed and sold "Cinnamon Toothpicks" to sweeten breath and curb appetite and smoking urges.

Bud and Betty retired in 1993, but Bud went on to update the formula for the toothpicks -- sweeter, hotter and longer-lasting than the original.

Funeral services are pending with Carpenter-Breland Funeral Home of McCook.