Elton Long, the Case engineer who helped design and develop the first modern fully integrated loader/backhoe in 1956, has died at 81 in Burlington, Iowa.

Long came to Case in 1956 as part of the company's merger with the Indiana-based American Tractor Corp. He stayed for nearly three decades, retiring in 1984, after 28 years with the company, as Case's vice president of engineering. Among his accomplishments were 46 patents related to construction equipment.

The machine developed by Long and his team offered many advantages over the retrofit kits offered by others. The new machine was compact and easy to maneuver on crowded job sites. It could perform multiple functions, including jobs previously done by hand.

“These integrated capabilities enabled contractors to reduce their construction costs,” said Rusty Schaefer, marketing manager for Case. “It was truly a revolutionary development in the construction industry.”

Long is survived by his wife, Sue; three children, Steven Long, Stephanie Mill, and Patricia Allbee; and six grandchildren.