3/17/2008:
As students struggle through Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, and even Calculus this school year, they likely will find sitting on the desk in front of them a calculator. This ubiquitous tool of most, if not all math students, will likely feature a dark grey or black body, a protective slip-case, a model number such as 83 or 86, and two letters plainly etched in its hard plastic shell; “T” and “I.” As many of you who have seen or used this ever-present tool have guessed; the two letters stand for Texas Instruments, makers of some of the most popular calculators in the world. Oddly enough, one of the original founders of TEXAS Instruments is a native of North Dakota, and he was born on this date 1914 in Harvey North Dakota.
Patrick Eugene Haggerty was the son of a railroad telegrapher. He spent his childhood in the town of Harvey, North Dakota; graduating from the local high school in 1931. Haggerty continued his education at Marquette University where he was awarded the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1936. Later, during World War Two, Haggerty began his military career as a lieutenant in the Navy Reserve. However, through hard work and a keen mind, Haggerty worked his way to the head of the Navy’s Electronics Production branch, and made responsible for the production of all airborne electronics. After the war Patrick left the Navy and was hired on as a general manager at Geophysical Service Inc., GSI for short, and the forerunner of Texas Instruments.
Haggerty had worked closely with GSI during the War, and this new job turned out to be a good fit. Due in no small part to Haggerty’s vision and leadership, GSI expanded and diversified its markets to the point that the company’s very name “Geophysical Services” became obsolete. The company to emerge in its place, Texas Instruments, became a leader in electrical engineering. It supplied airborne radar equipment to the US Military , produced the first commercially available silicon transistors, invented the first integrated circuit, and made possible the first pocket radio; the 1960’s version of the Ipod. These innovations are all in addition to Texas Instruments educational tools. Tools such as the calculators used throughout American schools and laboratories, and the famous “Speak and Spell,” providing spelling lessons to children across America and featured in the movie, E.T.
Patrick Haggerty passed away on October 1, 1980. However, the company that a Harvey native helped found and led has produced the technology that helped protect our country during the Cold War, entertained us while we were on the go, and has made solving those difficult math questions during 3rd period Algebra just a little bit easier.
Written by Lane Sunwall
Sources
http://www.ti.com/corp/docs/company/history/haggerty.shtml
http://www.ieee.org/web/aboutus/history_center/biography/haggerty.html
http://www.innovators.net/about_the_center/entrepreneur_hall.html
As students struggle through Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, and even Calculus this school year, they likely will find sitting on the desk in front of them a calculator. This ubiquitous tool of most, if not all math students, will likely feature a dark grey or black body, a protective slip-case, a model number such as 83 or 86, and two letters plainly etched in its hard plastic shell; “T” and “I.” As many of you who have seen or used this ever-present tool have guessed; the two letters stand for Texas Instruments, makers of some of the most popular calculators in the world. Oddly enough, one of the original founders of TEXAS Instruments is a native of North Dakota, and he was born on this date 1914 in Harvey North Dakota.
Patrick Eugene Haggerty was the son of a railroad telegrapher. He spent his childhood in the town of Harvey, North Dakota; graduating from the local high school in 1931. Haggerty continued his education at Marquette University where he was awarded the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1936. Later, during World War Two, Haggerty began his military career as a lieutenant in the Navy Reserve. However, through hard work and a keen mind, Haggerty worked his way to the head of the Navy’s Electronics Production branch, and made responsible for the production of all airborne electronics. After the war Patrick left the Navy and was hired on as a general manager at Geophysical Service Inc., GSI for short, and the forerunner of Texas Instruments.
Haggerty had worked closely with GSI during the War, and this new job turned out to be a good fit. Due in no small part to Haggerty’s vision and leadership, GSI expanded and diversified its markets to the point that the company’s very name “Geophysical Services” became obsolete. The company to emerge in its place, Texas Instruments, became a leader in electrical engineering. It supplied airborne radar equipment to the US Military , produced the first commercially available silicon transistors, invented the first integrated circuit, and made possible the first pocket radio; the 1960’s version of the Ipod. These innovations are all in addition to Texas Instruments educational tools. Tools such as the calculators used throughout American schools and laboratories, and the famous “Speak and Spell,” providing spelling lessons to children across America and featured in the movie, E.T.
Patrick Haggerty passed away on October 1, 1980. However, the company that a Harvey native helped found and led has produced the technology that helped protect our country during the Cold War, entertained us while we were on the go, and has made solving those difficult math questions during 3rd period Algebra just a little bit easier.
Written by Lane Sunwall
Sources
http://www.ti.com/corp/docs/company/history/haggerty.shtml
http://www.ieee.org/web/aboutus/history_center/biography/haggerty.html
http://www.innovators.net/about_the_center/entrepreneur_hall.html