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Toy designer Vic Reiling actually began his career working as an engineer for the U.S. Navy after he earned his degree and commission from the naval academy at Annapolis, MD. When he retired from military service, he gave up national defense for somewhat lighter ambitions. He spent several years working for Fisher-Price, the toy manufacturer headquartered in western New York, and for giant game-maker Milton-Bradley. Eventually, Reiling ventured out on his own, developing his own toy ideas and selling his inventions to many different toy manufacturers. His donation to the National Museum of Play at The Strong includes more than 30 toys based on his original ideas and designs.