Seattle-based entrepreneur and inventor of the modern backpack, Murray McCory, died last month at the age of 80.

Murray McCory, who founded JanSport while a student at UW and whose lightweight backpack, revolutionized school life for millions of students, died Oct. 7 in Seattle.

By Clay Risen Murray McCory, who founded the outdoor equipment company JanSport while still ... I can still see the first student I noticed wearing a backpack. I remember thinking, I want one.