MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (Oct. 9, 2024) — The borough of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, celebrated Raymond DeWalt Day to honor Raymond DeWalt and the 100th anniversary of his namesake DeWalt, a Stanley Black & Decker brand and provider of total jobsite solutions.
Mechanicsburg Mayor Jack Ritter, in partnership with DeWalt, proclaimed Oct. 9 "Raymond DeWalt Day" during a special ceremony with DeWalt's descendants who still reside in the Mechanicsburg community. Mechanicsburg City Council and representatives from DeWalt also attended the celebrations. To help memorialize the day, DeWalt presented Mayor Ritter with a ceremonial centennial DeWalt plaque.
"I knew the family," said Mayor Ritter. "Raymond DeWalt taught me how to use the DeWalt saw, and he also shopped in Ritters Hardware, a family store my grandfather opened in Mechanicsburg over 100 years ago. Ritters now sells DeWalt tools."
DeWalt was a tradesman in Pennsylvania in the early 1920s and became a power tool pioneer when he sought a way to streamline and expedite wood-cutting operations without sacrificing quality or safety.
His journey led to the invention of the "Wonder-Worker," an adjustable electric radial arm saw that provided the ability to efficiently execute multiple operations on one affordable piece of equipment, and the creation of DeWalt. The "Wonder-Worker" set the stage for DeWalt to begin distributing products both nationally and internationally.
Later in life, DeWalt focused on helping close the skilled trades gap. He became a shop teacher at Mechanicsburg High School in Pennsylvania, educating the next generation of professional tradespeople. DeWalt passed away in 1961, but his legacy lives on in the tools and outdoor products that bear his name.
In recognition of Raymond DeWalt's contributions to Mechanicsburg, DeWalt delivered tool donations to Cumberland-Perry Area Vocational Technical School to honor Raymond DeWalt's legacy supporting the trades. In addition, the company also donated tools to the same machine shop class at Mechanicsburg High School, where DeWalt taught.
Raymond DeWalt Day is the latest of a series of celebrations to commemorate the brand's anniversary, including electrifying the Sphere in Las Vegas and ringing The Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange to honor and thank the tradespeople who build, maintain, improve and advance our communities.
