I'll bite. The first graphite rod Orvis marketed was the Far and Fine, 1972. I still have mine.

I think Fenwick, Jimmy Green, was the creator of tip- over-butt ferrules made of the same materials the rod instead of metal ferrules.

As far as revolutionary things, Russ Peak's discovery that he could alter the action of rods by creating (adding) or removing sections of the fabric wrapped on the mandril, for example leaving 'ears' of fabric in a certain area to strength a section of the rod, is what led to real design of tapers.