Risden H. Curry (1920- 2009) was home schooled through 2nd grade by his mother, a former teacher from North Carolina. Risden Curry entered 3rd grade at Kingston School, finishing elementary school at Thomas School and graduated from Industrial (Parker) High School in the January class of 1935. Earned a BS degree from Johnson C. Smith University with a major in chemistry. Curry moved to Detroit Michigan in the late 1930,s where he worked for the Ford Motor Company. While working he attended the Ford Trade School to study metallurgy. After completion of the course in the study of metals he enrolled in machine shop training. He earned the coveted rating of Tool and Die Maker and master machinist. He then enrolled as a mechanical engineering student at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Risden's older brother Harry Curry had the same educational journey as Risden . Harry graduated from Industrial (Parker) High School in the January class of 1934, and graduated from Johnson C. Smith Univ. with a major in chemistry. In Detroit Michigan Harry attended a technical school where he earned a degree in engineering
. In Ann Arbor, Michigan Risden started a foundry specializing in non-ferrous castings. With the help of his older brother Harry they produced precision bronze and aluminum castings
It was in this foundry that he invented a “valve assembly” UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE number 3,068,899 Date of invention patent Dec. 18, 1962.