Rufus Stokes: A quiet giant of innovation

Dr. Rufus Stokes, a pioneering African American inventor known for his air-purification innovations, developed early designs that would later influence the thermal fogging and emissions-reduction systems widely adopted by industry. Although his major patents were secured before his passing in 1986, the 1990s marked a major period of expansion and refinement of his technology. Engineers and manufacturers built upon Stokes’ original concepts—particularly his approach to filtering and breaking down pollutants—to create more efficient thermal fogging units used in industrial deodorizing.