Besides being called a "founding father", that person could be a groundbreaker.

• someone who helps to open up a new line of research or technology or art ≡ pioneer, trailblazer↔conceiver, mastermind, originator - someone who creates new things.

(Vocabulary.com/TFD)

Besides being called a "founding father", that person could be a groundbreaker.

• founding father : who founds or establishes something.
• someone who helps to open up a new line of research or technology or art ≡ pioneer, trailblazer↔conceiver, mastermind, originator - someone who creates new things.

(Vocabulary.com/TFD)