Ronald Medd, Inventor of DQ Blizzard Machine, Passed Away Monday in Bettendorf

One of my favorite things about Summer is getting a large Butterfinger Blizzard from Dairy Queen. Who knew that the inventor of the machine that makes my delicious treat lived right here in the Quad Cities?

I knew they had Quad City ties, but never knew that they actually invented the machine itself that makes Blizzards. From now on every time I get a Blizzard I'm going to eat it in honor of Ronald. Blizzards up.

Ronald Medd

In 1984, he and his brother invented the “Blizzard” machine for which they held Canadian and U.S. patents. While Samuel J. Temperato is credited with creating the first Blizzard for Dairy Queen, the Medds' machine helped Dairy Queen sell more than 175 million Blizzards in 1985, according to the Dairy Queen website.
Mr. Medd was an alderman in Bettendorf and chairman of the Board of Adjustment. He also was past president for the DQ Trade Association of Iowa and the Mississippi Valley Restaurant Association. His civic work included heading the committee naming the TouVelle Stadium, president of the Mark Twain PTA, being voted Bettendorf High School Most Loyal Football Fan and being a member of the Hamilton Blue Lodge building committee.