Otis Frank Boykin (Dallas, 1920 – Chicago, 1982) African-American inventor and engineer who patented 26 electronic devices. His father was a carpenter who later became a preacher. His mother was a maid and died of heart failure when he was just one year old. This inspired him to set about improving the concept of a pacemaker. His most famous invention was a control device for an artificial cardiac pacemaker. The device used electrical impulses to maintain a regular heartbeat. His inventions include a burglar-proof cash register, electronic devices in guided missiles and IBM computers. He died in Chicago of heart failure, just like his mother.